(CNN) Cases of measles have reached a record high in Europe this year, with more cases recorded in the first six months of 2018 than any other 12-month period this decade, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). More than 41,000 children and adults contracted measles in the European region from January to June -- almost double the number of people infected with measles for all of 2017. Last year was a record high for measles cases, with 23,927 people becoming infected in Europe that year, but numbers this year have already exceeded those figures. In 2016 there was a yearly total of 5,273 cases of measles. "This is an unnecessary and unacceptable tragedy when we have a safe and effective vaccine available to prevent the disease."

Source: CNN August 20, 2018 13:52 UTC