The number of reported cases in European Union Member States is substantially lower in 2012 compared with the same period in 2011, but the notification rate for the last 12-month period continues to exceed the elimination target of less than one case per million population.

According to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control monthly measles and rubella report, 11 out of 29 reporting countries met the elimination target of less than 1 case per million population during the last 12 months. These are Bulgaria, Denmark, Finland, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Lithuania, Malta, Netherlands, Portugal, and Slovakia.

There were 5 640 reported cases of measles from January to September 2012 and 8 054 cases during the last 12-month period from October 2011 to September 2012. France, Italy, Romania, Spain and the United Kingdom contributed 93% of the notified measles cases.

There was no increase in cases at the European level during the peak transmission season from February to June this year.

From 1 January to 31 September 2012, 25 759 cases of rubella were reported by 26 EU and EEA countries; 30 116 rubella cases were reported from October 2011 to September 2012. Poland and Romania accounted for 99% of all reported rubella cases during the last 12-month period.

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