Sweden measles outbreak linked to folk festival

Sweden's Public Health Agency said Wednesday it had recorded 21 measles cases connected to the Urkult folk music festival in the north of the country.

The agency said the cases were reported in several regions, but all were linked to the festival, which was held in late July and early August. A majority of those affected were under 18, and most cases involved people who had not been vaccinated.

“Outbreaks of measles are rare,” the health agency said, adding that measles vaccination is part of Sweden's national childhood vaccination programme and that coverage is about 95 percent.

Regional health authorities are carrying out contact tracing to limit the spread.

Measles causes fever, respiratory symptoms and skin rashes. In some cases, it can lead to severe complications, including pneumonia and brain inflammation, which can cause serious long-term effects and death.