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Ukraine is one of the areas where measles has increased significantly in Europe in 2018 due in particular to a lack of vaccination. AFP Photos / Yuri DYACHYSHYN

The Pacific Islands are not the only ones involved. Last year, the disease killed 140,000 people, the WHO announced Thursday (December 5th). Most children under 5 years old. The trend is expected to worsen in 2019.

With our correspondent in Geneva, Jérémie Lanche

After decades of steady decline in the number of patients, 2018 marks a break in the fight against measles. It has contaminated nearly ten million people. Especially in the DRC, Madagascar and Ukraine.

→ Listen again: Report Africa: DRC: Resistant measles in rural areas

But all regions are concerned. In the United States, it had been 25 years since we had seen so many measles patients. This is due to a fall in immunization coverage, partly due to the growing influence of anti-vaccines. This is what Dr. Kate O'Brien from WHO says:

" There are anti-vaccines since vaccines have been available since the end of the 18th century. This is not new. What's new for 5-10 years is that these people now have access to a megaphone [with social networks]. There are many marginal groups among these anti-vaccines. They are not numerous but they do misinformation. And what is new is that they can spread their message widely and give the impression that there are many more than they really are. "

Even if a patient survives measles, his immune system is severely affected. Multiplying the chances of other infections. We are talking about immune amnesia. The measles vaccine is safe and cheap, says WHO. Two doses are enough to protect themselves.

For two days, a gigantic measles immunization operation will help fight the epidemic in the Samoan archipelago. The stopped islands are currently at a standstill, no shops are open and the population is asked to stay at home.

→ Read also: The measles epidemic worries (RFI Knowledge)