Measles cases in the European region have surged to their highest levels since 1997, according to a recent report by the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF. In 2024, there were 127,352 reported measles cases, double the number from the previous year.
The majority of those affected, 40%, are children under the age of 5. Furthermore, half a million children missed their first dose of the measles vaccine in 2023, highlighting the need for improved vaccination rates.
Dr. Hans P. Kluge, WHO’s regional director for Europe, warned that without high vaccination rates, there is no health security. The report attributes the rise to “backsliding in immunization coverage during the pandemic,” with many countries yet to regain pre-COVID levels of vaccination rates.
The European region accounts for a third of all measles cases globally, with some countries, including Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Romania, experiencing low vaccination rates. The report emphasizes that vaccination remains the best line of defense against measles, with a vaccinated individual having a 97% chance of not contracting the virus.
Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2025/03/13/world/europe-measles-cases-intl-latam/index.html