The World Health Organization (WHO), alarmed over tens of thousands of measles cases across Europe, sought on Wednesday to step up measles vaccination campaigns in the continent.

WHO's European director Zsuzsanna Jakab said she was "taken aback" by the 22,149 reported cases from seven nations, which could derail the region's target of wiping out measles by the end of next year.

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Although measles cases dropped by 50 percent in the past couple of years, big outbreaks persist in both western and eastern Europe, the WHO reported.

Germany has had 583 cases of measles since the start of last year while Italy has 1,674 cases; Russia has more than 3,240; and has Kyrgyzstan 7,477.

In a statement, Jakab said health authorities must respond collectively as soon as possible to improve immunization efforts. She added that it was unacceptable that after half a century of efforts to make effective and safe vaccines available, measles still costs lives and money.

A highly infectious and sometimes fatal viral illness, measles can spread very fast among unvaccinated youth.

Medicine has yet to come up with a specific treatment for the disease but most recover within several weeks. However, in malnourished and poor children and patients with weak immunity, measles can lead to severe conditions such as encephalitis, blindness, ear infection, pneumonia and grave diarrhea.

Nedret Emiroglu, a WHO Europe expert on infectious diseases, said stopping the spread of measles entails being on top of any epidemic as fast as possible and making sure vaccination is at the highest possible level.

She said all nations, with no exception, should strive for a high coverage of measles vaccination so that outbreaks will be prevented and measles can be wiped out.

An outbreak of measles in the U.S. has resulted in more than 150 people infected, which had been traced to an infected foreigner who visited Disneyland in late December last year.

Tagsmeasles, Measles outbreak, measles vaccine, WHO, Europe