(ANSA) - ROME, FEB 12 - In 2017 in Europe almost 14,500 cases of measles were recorded, three times the 2016 figure, with 30 deaths, according to the European Center for Disease Control (ECDC), which took into account data provided by the European Surveillance System (TESSy). According to ECDC, Romania and Italy are ranked first in both 'classifications'.

"In the period between January 1 and December 31, 2017, the majority of cases were recorded in Romania (5,560) and Italy (5,004), Greece (967) and Germany (929) - according to report -, which recorded 38%, 35%, 7% and 6% respectively ".

Only Latvia and Malta, European experts point out, did not record any cases last year, whereas those in Romania could be underestimated. Half of the 30 deaths about occurred in Romania (14), four in Italy, two in Greece and one in Bulgaria, France, Germany, Portugal and Spain. The highest incidence occurred among children aged under one (367.2 cases per million) and those between 1 and 4 years. 37% of the cases were recorded in children aged under 5, 45% in those aged over 15. 87% of the cases occurred in unvaccinated children, 8% in people who have received a single dose of vaccine. (ANSA).