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The World Health Organisation said the rise in cases was "unprecedented" for a preventable disease.

They revealed they are rapidly ramping up their response to the outbreak, which has spread over two years, “based on the growing number of children and adults affected by and dying from the disease".

Measles is one of the leading causes of death in the world from a disease that can be cured by a vaccine.

It poses a particular danger to children and gives sufferers excruciating rashes, fever, and inflamed eyes.

WHO revealed today that, since the beginning of last year, more than 90% of countries across the continent have together reported over 100,000 measles cases and over 90 related deaths.

(Image: GETTY)

(Image: GETTY)

In recent years, conspiracy theories and fake reports have led to many parents stopping their kids having a vaccine, which is effective at preventing the disease.

The WHO highlighted “the persistence of pockets of non-immunized or under-immunized individuals in many countries fuelling the continuing spread of measles.”

More than half a million UK children could be at risk of disease after missing crucial jab, children's charity Unicef warned last month.

And earlier this week, it was reported that so-called “anti-vaxxers” in Germany could face fines of over £2000 children in their care are not given a jab.

“We have observed an unprecedented upsurge in people sick with this preventable disease, and too many have lost their lives to it,” Dr Dorit Nitzan, a WHO regional emergency director in Europe, said.

(Image: GETTY)

“This is unacceptable and we need to be bolder and scale up our response to the next level.

“I am proud to see that different parts and levels of WHO are intensifying their combined efforts to stop these outbreaks.”

Dr Masoud Dara, of the WHO Regional Office for Europe, added: “WHO has been working closely with countries in the European Region to enhance their capacity to protect children from measles.

“However, this alarming resurgence is a warning that the Region’s immunization coverage is not yet sufficient”.

He continued: “Escalating our response will enable us to raise political awareness and will help in strengthening European health systems in the longer term to avoid future outbreaks.”