The number of measles cases worldwide in the first three months of 2019 has increased by 300 per cent since the same time last year.
That's according to the World Health Organisation [[WHO]], which says its provisional data indicates the world is currently going through what it calls "a global measles crisis".
The United Nations' agency for health says the more than 110,000 measles cases [[112,163]] reported worldwide between January and March this year follow consecutive increases over the past two years.
The W-H-O says only about one in 10 actual measles cases are reported, meaning the early trends for 2019 likely underestimate the severity of the outbreaks.
Measles is a highly-infectious viral illness which can lead to serious health complications, including infections of the lungs and brain, severe diarrhoea and dehydration, and permanent vision loss.
The W-H-O says every region of the world is experiencing increased cases of measles.
But it's Africa witnessing the most dramatic rise, up 700 per cent, with the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Sudan and Madagascar worst affected.
Since September last year, at least 800 people have died from measles in Madagascar alone.
Measles outbreaks in other countries
Recent outbreaks outside of Africa have occurred in the United States, Italy, Myanmar, the Philippines, Thailand, Israel, Serbia and Ukraine, causing many deaths -- mostly among young children.
The W-H-O says measles is preventable everywhere in the world with the right vaccines.
However, the bloc says global vaccination levels are only at 85 per cent, short of the 95 per cent target it says would prevent outbreaks.
W-H-O vaccination expert, Dr Katherine O’Brien, says misinformation about vaccines is to blame.
Calls have been mounting in several countries to make immunisation mandatory.
In March, Italy banned children under six from attending schools unless they have received vaccines for chickenpox, measles and other illnesses.
In early April, an outbreak in areas of New York in the United States led to a public health emergency being declared, ordering all residents to be vaccinated or face a fine.
Australia has also been hit by measles outbreaks in the first few months of 2019.
New South Wales has had 35 cases since Christmas, while Queensland has seen 12 confirmed cases this year.
