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The director of the Disease Prevention and Control Center Inga Smate explained that this is a substantial increase in the number of infected persons when compared to previous years. Last year, no cases of persons infected with the measles was registered in Latvia, but in 2012 – three cases.

Out of the eight persons infected, one is a child, while the other seven are adults. Smate added that most of these persons were not vaccinated for measles.

Last year, persons infected with the measles were registered in 36 countries in Europe, according to information from the World Health Organization. The most registered cases was observed in Georgia – 7,830, followed by Turkey – 7,404, Ukraine – 3,308, the Netherlands – 2,499, Italy – 2,216, Great Britain – 1,900, Germany – 1,773, and Romania – 1,074.

''These statistics show that an increase in the number of persons who are no vaccinated against measles can lead to serious outbreaks in Europe,'' Smate added.