Measles Surge in Europe Reaches Alarming Levels, WHO Reports

A joint WHO and Unicef report indicates that measles cases in Europe doubled in 2024, marking the highest incidence in 25 years, largely due to declining vaccination rates. Pediatric cases are particularly alarming, as the report shows over 40% of infections involved children under five.

The number of measles infections in Europe has surged to an alarming high, with a record 127,350 cases reported in 2024, as per a recent analysis from the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF. This figure marks the highest incidence in 25 years and represents a concerning trend of doubled cases compared to the previous year.

Dr. Hans Henri Kluge, WHO’s regional director for Europe, emphasized the urgency of the crisis, stating, "Measles is back, and it's a wake-up call." With children under five years old accounting for more than 40% of reported cases, the implications for pediatric health are particularly grave. The MMR vaccine—widely recognized for its efficacy at 97%—is crucial for preventing the spread of this highly contagious virus.

Measles, easily transmitted via respiratory droplets, can lead to severe health complications, including pneumonia, brain swelling, and even death. The recent analysis highlighted that Europe comprised a third of all global cases of measles, with Romania and Kazakhstan each reporting over 30,000 cases. The report further indicated that just four European countries achieved the critical vaccination threshold of 95% needed to prevent outbreaks.

As vaccination rates continue to decline, exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic, the WHO and UNICEF have urged immediate action from governments where outbreaks are occurring, as well as those that have yet to experience the virus. Recent data indicates a worrying trend in the USA, where the disease, once declared eliminated in 2000, is resurfacing, resulting in multiple fatalities.

According to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), the majority of those diagnosed with measles last year were unvaccinated. The ebbing interest in vaccinations has been fueled by misinformation, particularly on social media, which has led to diminished public trust in vaccination programs. Experts stress the importance of relying on scientifically-backed information, as misinformation has historically influenced vaccination decisions, especially during the recent pandemic.