Measles is one of the most contagious viruses in the world, and can live on surfaces or suspended in the air for two hours. Public health recommendations call for children to receive their first shot to protect against it between 12 months and 15 months old, and a second round between the ages of 4 and 6.

A newborn with measles is among the cases reported in the growing West Texas outbreak, Lubbock public health officials say. Experts say the case serves as a reminder that the disease can be especially dangerous for pregnant women and very young children.

“In general, we have not recommended boosters because there is no clear evidence that people need it. But there probably is very little downside to the booster, so I know people who have gotten it. There is no evidence that titer levels necessarily correlate with whether you are protected or not.”

Measles cases in the European region surged last year to reach their highest levels since 1997, the World Health Organization and the UN’s children agency, UNICEF, said Thursday.

The number of measles cases in the European region doubled last year to reach the highest level in 25 years, health officials say. A joint report by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the UN children's fund, Unicef, said children under the age of five accounted for more than 40% of the cases reported in Europe and central Asia.

BERLIN (Reuters) -Measles cases in the European region doubled in 2024 to a more than 25-year-high, the World Health Organisation and UNICEF said on Thursday, as they urged action to boost vaccination levels that declined during the COVID-19 pandemic.