Teenager succumbs to measles

A second person has died from measles in Greece this year. It was revealed that a 17-year-old boy died at the University Hospital in Rio, near the western port city of Patra, last Friday.

The youngster suffered a brain inflammation after contracting the disease from members of his family.

He had not been vaccinated.

His death follows that of an 11-month-old child, which had also not been inoculated against measles. Both victims were members of the Roma community.

Since May this year, there have been 690 cases of measles, or 6.4 per 100,000 inhabitants. Just over half led to those who contracted the virus needing hospital treatment.

Almost 75 percent of the cases involved Greek Roma, while the vast majority were up to 14 years old.