Greece reported a reemergence of measles in 2017 with 1,027 cases, according to the latest data from the Hellenic Statistical Authority.
The increase in cases began in August 2017 and has continued through 2018.
Since the beginning of the year, Greece has seen 3258 measles cases in 2018 (1,885 lab confirmed). The highest frequency has been observed in Southern Greece. It concerns people of Greek nationality (mainly young Roma children, as well as Greek adults mainly aged 25-44 years old) susceptible to measles, among them healthcare professionals who were unvaccinated or partly vaccinated.
Four deaths have been reported in laboratory confirmed measles cases.
Measles is a serious disease that can lead to hospitalization and even death. Symptoms include a high fever, cough, runny nose and watery eyes followed by a rash that typically spreads from the head to the rest of the body. It generally takes 8 to 12 days, but can be as long as 21 days, from exposure to the first symptom, usually fever. The measles rash usually appears two to three days after the fever begins. Measles is highly contagious and spreads easily by coughing, sneezing or even being in the same room with someone who has measles. People with measles are contagious from four days before to four days after rash onset.
How contagious is measles? Answer: Very
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