In brief
According to a joint report by the WHO and UNICEF, measles cases in Europe doubled in the past year, reaching a peak not seen in 25 years. Children under five represent over 40% of infections, with vaccination rates remaining low since the COVID-19 pandemic.
The World Health Organization (WHO) and the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) have released a joint report indicating that the number of measles cases in Europe has reached alarming levels, doubling last year and hitting the highest rate recorded in 25 years. The analysis revealed that more than 40% of the cases involved children under the age of five.Hans Henri Kluge, the WHO's regional director for Europe, described the resurgence of measles as a wake-up call, emphasizing that without high vaccination rates, health security is compromised. The MMR vaccine—effective at 97%—is key in combating this dangerous virus known for its high transmission rate through respiratory droplets from coughs or sneezes.Common symptoms of measles include high fever, cough, sneezing, and red, watery eyes. The virus poses severe health risks, potentially leading to pneumonia, brain swelling, and fatalities. The report stated that there were 127,350 measles cases in the European region in 2024, the highest number since 1997, with 38 deaths reported by March 6, 2025. Once on the decline since 1997, measles cases began escalating in 2018-19, exacerbated by backsliding immunization rates during the COVID-19 pandemic. Current vaccination levels in many countries remain below pre-pandemic standards, with the WHO/UNICEF report highlighting that Europe accounted for one-third of the global measles cases in 2024. Romania and Kazakhstan reported the most cases, with 30,692 and 28,147 respectively.In a concerning trend, the recent measles outbreak has recorded two deaths in the U.S. where measles was previously declared "eliminated" in 2000. Falling vaccination rates are identified as the primary cause of the resurgence, with data showing that eight out of ten diagnosed cases in Europe last year were among unvaccinated individuals.Despite the grim statistics, vaccinations still fell short of the 95% threshold necessary to prevent outbreaks in most countries, with only Hungary, Malta, Portugal, and Slovakia meeting this standard. In the UK, similar concerns about the rise of measles are coupled with vaccination rates for two doses dropping below 90%. Dr. Ben Kasstan-Dabush of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine warns against relying on unverified social media information regarding vaccines, emphasizing the importance of informed decisions based on scientific evidence.
