Barbados is being urged to tighten its defences against measles as the Americas confront their worst outbreak of the highly contagious disease in more than two decades officials are reporting almost 47 500 confirmed cases and 44 deaths so far for the year.

The warning comes as regional health authorities sound the alarm over the rapid spread of measles, while local paediatricians and medical practitioners are urging parents not to become complacent about childhood vaccination.

The Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) has also called on governments across the region to intensify vaccination campaigns, disease surveillance and emergency outbreak preparations as transmission continues in several countries.