Measles infections in Europe have hit a 25-year high, with a sharp increase fueled by declining vaccination rates, a United Nations report published on March 13 said. The virus infected 127,352 people on the continent in 2024, with Romania having the most cases, the UNICEF and World Health Organization (WHO) Europe joint report confirmed.
Children Under Five Most Affected
Kids below the age of five represented 43% of all cases reported in Europe and Central Asia in the previous year. The comeback is a steep dip in vaccination rates amid the COVID-19 pandemic, which resulted in more measles outbreaks in 2023 and 2024, according to Politico.
“Many countries’ vaccination rates are still below pre-pandemic levels, raising the potential for outbreak threats,” warned the report.
In a few countries, vaccination has dropped to critical levels. Less than 80% of targeted children were administered the first measles vaccine dose (MCV1) in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Romania in 2023—a far cry from the 95% coverage rate required for population immunity.
Europe Accounts for 35% of Global Measles Cases
The measles epidemic is not limited to Europe. Europe and Central Asia reported 35% of all measles cases globally, which increased to 359,521 in the world in 2024.
Measles Outbreak in the US
The US has seen its own upswing of cases with a notable outbreak occurring in West Texas. The disease spread to eight more counties and into New Mexico and, at a later point in time, was continuing in Georgia, Alaska, New Jersey, and California.
In 2000, measles had been announced eliminated within the US by broad vaccination programs. Of late, falling vaccine use has prompted outbreaks that have become progressively greater in scale.
Measles is a highly infectious virus, transmitted by respiratory droplets and remaining in the air for a period of two hours after an infected individual has vacated a space. The illness results in fever, respiratory complications, and rash but, in serious instances, pneumonia, encephalitis, and death.
UNICEF cautioned that only a single case of measles can cause 12 to 18 other infections, and it is therefore important to get back immunization coverage to avoid outbreaks.
