In brief
The World Health Organization warns that measles cases in Europe have doubled, reaching the highest levels in 25 years, largely attributed to declining vaccination rates and skepticism about immunization, with urgent calls for action from governments.
The number of measles cases in Europe has alarmingly doubled in the past year, reaching a staggering high not seen in 25 years, according to health officials from the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF. The report indicates that over 40% of the reported cases involved children under the age of five, highlighting a growing public health concern. "Measles is back, and it's a wake-up call," expressed Hans Henri Kluge, WHO's regional director for Europe. He emphasized that without maintaining high vaccination rates, there is no assurance of health security. The MMR vaccine, which protects against measles, mumps, and rubella, boasts an impressive efficacy of 97% against this dangerous virus. Measles is highly contagious, spreading through coughs and sneezes, with symptoms such as high fever, red, watery eyes, cough, and sneezing. Complications from the disease can lead to severe conditions such as pneumonia and brain swelling.The joint analysis from WHO and UNICEF covering 53 countries revealed a concerning 127,350 measles cases reported within Europe in 2024—the highest since 1997—and a recorded total of 38 deaths up to early March 2025. After a decline in cases post-1997, the trend saw a reversal from 2018 onward, significantly affected by a reduction in immunization coverage during the COVID-19 pandemic.The European region accounted for one-third of all global measles cases in 2024, with Romania and Kazakhstan reporting the highest incidences at 30,692 and 28,147 cases, respectively. The report urges governments facing outbreaks to act swiftly to bolster vaccination efforts and prepare those regions where measles has yet to arrive.In the United States, recent cases and two fatalities underscore the seriousness of the situation as measles, deemed "eliminated" in 2000, resurfaces alongside a rise in cases in Canada. Data from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) reveals that a staggering 80% of individuals diagnosed with measles last year were unvaccinated. Alarmingly, by 2023, only Hungary, Malta, Portugal, and Slovakia succeeded in meeting the 95% vaccination threshold necessary to guard against outbreaks.Concerns are also echoed in the UK, where vaccination rates for the MMR vaccine have dipped below 90%. Dr. Ben Kasstan-Dabush from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine cautioned against reliance on unverified social media information, emphasizing the risks of misinformation influencing public decisions surrounding vaccination.
