Europe has recorded its highest number of measles cases in 25 years, with infections doubling in 2024 compared to the previous year, according to a report by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF).
WHO’s regional director for Europe, Hans Kluge, described the resurgence of measles as a serious health warning. "Measles is back, and it’s a wake-up call," he stated.
In 2024, the European region reported 127,350 measles cases, the highest number since 1997. The disease, one of the most contagious viruses affecting humans, can severely weaken the immune system, leaving survivors vulnerable to other infections. It can also lead to serious complications such as pneumonia, encephalitis, severe dehydration, and even blindness.
Globally, measles remains a significant threat, with 359,521 cases reported in 2024. WHO estimates that 107,500 measles-related deaths occurred in 2023, mostly among unvaccinated or under-vaccinated children under five.
The European region, which includes 53 countries across Europe and Central Asia, accounted for nearly one-third of global cases last year. By early March 2024, WHO had recorded 38 measles-related deaths in the region.
The UN agencies highlighted a worrying trend of declining vaccination rates, which they linked to a resurgence in measles. After years of declining cases since 1997, measles infections rose sharply in 2018 and 2019, reaching 106,000 cases before dropping to a low of 4,440 in 2016. However, the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted immunization efforts, leading to a surge in cases in 2023 and 2024.
“Measles cases across Europe and Central Asia have soared over the past two years, pointing to gaps in immunisation coverage,” said UNICEF regional director Regina De Dominicis. In 2023, approximately 500,000 children in the region missed their first dose of the measles vaccine.
The report revealed that Romania recorded the highest number of cases in 2024, with 30,692 infections, followed by Kazakhstan with 28,147. Countries such as Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Romania had vaccination rates below 80 percent in 2023, far below the 95 percent needed for herd immunity.
UNICEF and WHO are now working with governments, the European Union, and health organizations to prevent further outbreaks. They are focusing on community engagement, training healthcare workers, strengthening immunization programs, and launching measles vaccination campaigns.
The agencies urged governments dealing with outbreaks to take urgent action, including intensified case tracking, contact tracing, and emergency vaccinations. They also emphasized the need to address vaccine hesitancy, ensure equitable access to immunization, and build trust in vaccines to prevent future outbreaks.
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