Measles fear for Ebola-hit countries

Ebola-hit countries in West Africa are ripe for a measles outbreak that could infect hundreds of thousands of people, US researchers warn.

More than 10,000 people have died in the largest ever outbreak of the virus.

But a study in the journal Science suggests there could be even more deaths from other diseases because of the devastating impact on the countries' vaccination programmes.

Experts said an increase in such infections was likely, reports BBC. Dr Justin Lessler, of Johns Hopkins University in the US, said: "Measles in particular is known to show up during or after humanitarian crises because it is so infectious.

There have been 24,350 cases of Ebola in Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone. Many healthcare facilities closed and the fear of Ebola meant people did not show up at those that remained.

It has had a knock-on effect on immunisation campaigns for measles, polio, TB and other diseases.