The World Health Organization said the rise in cases was unprecedented for a preventable disease. Liam Deacon May 9 2019 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 100000 measles cases and over 90 related deaths.