The number of cases of measles rose by more than 300 per cent in the first three months of this year compared to the same period in 2018, according to new figures from the World Health Organization.

Some 112,163 cases of measles globally were reported between January and March this year compared to just 28,124 during the same period last year.

While the figures are not yet complete, with some countries only reporting data for January and February, WHO say they indicate a “clear trend” of an increase in the number of cases, mostly driven by poor rates of vaccination.

WHO says that the actual number of cases is likely to be much higher as less than one in 10 cases globally are reported.

The huge explosion in the figures comes amid growing concern over the rise of anti-vaccine sentiment around the world, fueled by a range of factors including distrust of authority, religious objections and the spread of fake news on social media.

Earlier this year the WHO said that vaccine hesitancy was one of the top health risks facing the world, alongside threats such as air pollution and obesity.