In brief
The World Health Organization has revealed that Europe experienced the highest number of measles cases in 25 years, with over 127,000 cases reported last year, largely due to declining vaccination rates post-COVID-19.
The European region is experiencing the highest incidence of measles in 25 years, according to a recent report from the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF. The report highlights that the number of measles cases in Europe surged to over 127,000 in 2024, which marks a significant rise from previous years and underscores the dangerous health risks arising from declining vaccination rates.Health officials noted that children under five years old accounted for over 40% of the reported cases in Europe and Central Asia. Hans Henri Kluge, the WHO's regional director for Europe, issued a stark warning stating, “Measles is back, and it's a wake-up call,” adding that without high vaccination coverage, public health remains at risk. The MMR vaccine, which protects against measles, mumps, and rubella, boasts an effectiveness rate of 97%.Measles is known for its highly contagious nature, being transmitted through respiratory droplets. Symptoms often include high fever, red and watery eyes, cough, and sneezing. The virus presents serious health risks, including pneumonia, brain swelling, and potential fatalities. The joint WHO-UNICEF analysis revealed an alarming trend: after a period of declining cases since 1997, a spike occurred in 2018-19 with significant increases noted in the last year. Up to March 6, 2025, 38 deaths linked to measles were reported across the European region, which accounted for one-third of global cases in 2024. Romania recorded the highest incidence with 30,692 cases, followed closely by Kazakhstan with 28,147 cases.Governments have been urged to take immediate action in response to these outbreaks, while those nations not yet affected should prepare for potential cases. The rise in measles is mirrored by outbreaks in the United States and Canada, where the disease had previously been considered eliminated.Falling vaccination rates are cited as a major contributor to these outbreaks. In Europe, data from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) indicated that eight out of ten individuals who were diagnosed with measles last year were unvaccinated. Alarmingly, only four countries—Hungary, Malta, Portugal, and Slovakia—met the 95% vaccination threshold necessary to prevent outbreaks.Concerns have also been raised in the UK, where vaccination rates for the two doses of the MMR vaccine have dipped below 90%. Experts, such as Dr. Ben Kasstan-Dabush from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, are cautioning against reliance on information spread via social media platforms, emphasizing the role of misinformation in vaccine decisions and public health policy.
