A measles epidemic is spreading through Europe, with 41,000 people affected and 34 dead in the first six months of this year. The outbreaks have been blamed on growing public resistance to vaccinations. Stefan de Vries reports from Paris.

STEFAN DE VRIES PARIS "Measles is highly infectious. One person can contaminate up to 20 people. That's why vaccination is so important. In this hospital in the heart of Paris, they treat and research this disease 24- hours a day."

DR. ERIC CAUMES PROFESSOR OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES "The hospitalization rate of the current epidemic is about 20 percent, so that's pretty high. France is one of the bad students of Europe, with Italy, Greece and Ukraine. This situation makes me angry. We have people dying of measles, we have complications. It's a situation similar to a developing country. Dying of measles today in a so-called developed country is scandalous. It's even more exasperating because prevention is extremely simple. We have a very, very effective vaccination."

STEFAN DE VRIES PARIS "There is a problem, however. In France, more than anywhere else in Europe, many people think that vaccines are dangerous. But why?"

Sociologist Jeremy Ward has been trying to find an answer to this seemingly simple question.

JEREMY WARD, PHD, SOCIOLOGIST VITROME RESEARCH LAB "I don't know of another country that has seen so much vaccine related controversies. And that really started in 2009 with the pandemic flu vaccination campaign which was a big fiasco in France. The main actors today are patient groups and environmental organizations, focusing on the use of aluminium conflicts of interest."

French doctors have been trained in dealing with people who are against vaccinations.

DR. KRISTELL DELARUE, PEDIATRICIAN PARIS "At least once a day, there is a debate about the vaccinations."

But some doctors here are successful in convincing parents that vaccinations are safe.

DR. KRISTELL DELARUE, PEDIATRICIAN PARIS "My most convincing argument is 'I vaccinated my own children without hesitation.'That's an argument that really works well."

"It's true, it's a bit scary, but I'm doing the obligatory vaccines. I think it's important for the public health."

STEFAN DE VRIES PARIS "The French government made vaccination against all kinds of infectious diseases, including measles, obligatory for all babies born after January 1st of this year. For France, the prevention of future epidemics is now a top priority. Stefan de Vries in Paris, for CGTN."