Measles

Greece's third measles-related death in under a year last week has raised concerns among health authorities that are seeking to increase vaccinations, particularly among vulnerable groups such as health workers and individuals born in or before the 1970s, who may have had the first booster but never followed up with the second.

The woman, whose initials are M.M. and who died in Belgrade's Clinic for Infectious and Tropical Diseases, is the fifth victim in Serbia, and the third in the capital.

Two patients - a 2-year-old child and a woman who had recently given birth - died in Nis, southern Serbia.

Outbreaks of measles increased 400% in Europe last year, with the World Health Organization (WHO) warning the highly contagious virus has regained a foothold due to immunization decline and vaccine supply problems.

European officials said on Tuesday that the spike in the number of measles cases in Europe was due to epidemics in Romania, Italy, Germany and Greece.

According to the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control, more than 14,400 cases were reported by 30 countries last year - compared with about 4,600 cases the year before.

A measles outbreak which began last May is showing no sign of abating, with Greece's union of public hospital workers (POEDIN) on Tuesday announcing three new cases, bringing the total number recorded close to 1,200.

A measles epidemic that started in May shows no sign of abating after the Center for Disease Prevention and Control (KEELPNO) reported 267 new cases from November 30 to December 21, 91 of which were recorded in the past week alone.

Serbian Health Minister Zlatibor Loncar confirmed on Wednesday that an unvaccinated man from Belgrade had died from measles, which has spread across Serbia since an outbreak was first reported in November.

"This problem can't be solved until we are all vaccinated," Loncar told the press, calling on parents to protect their children's health.

A 20-year-old man from Belgrade has died in a hospital's intensive care unit from complications caused by measles, RTS is reporting.

He is the first victim of measles in Serbia. The patient had not been inoculated against the infectious disease.

He is the first victim of measles in Serbia. The patient had not been inoculated against the infectious disease.

Since October, a total of 630 persons in central Serbia and in Serb-majority areas in Kosovo and Metohija contracted the disease, the Public Health Institute Batut announced on Tuesday.

More than 700 cases of measles have been registered at hospitals across the country, mainly in Attica, since May this year, according to the latest data released by health authorities.