Measles cases in Europe have doubled within a year, reaching the highest levels since 1997, according to UN agencies.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) and the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) announced this in a statement on Thursday, reporting that 127,350 cases were recorded in the region in 2024, twice the number reported in 2023.

“Measles is back, and it’s a wake-up call,” said WHO Regional Director for Europe, Dr. Hans Kluge.

Measles is one of the most contagious viruses affecting humans. It can weaken the immune system by erasing its memory of past infections, making survivors more susceptible to new diseases.

“As well as hospitalisation and death caused by complications including pneumonia, encephalitis, diarrhoea, and dehydration, measles can also cause long-term, debilitating health complications such as blindness,” the UN agencies stated.

According to WHO, an estimated 107,500 measles-related deaths occurred worldwide in 2023, the majority among unvaccinated or under-vaccinated children under five.

In 2024, 359,521 measles cases were reported globally, with outbreaks recorded in various regions, including the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the United States.

As of March 6, 2025, WHO reported 38 deaths in the European region, which consists of 53 countries across Europe and Central Asia. This region accounted for one-third of global measles cases in 2024.

UN agencies noted that measles cases previously declined from 216,000 in 1997 to a low of 4,440 in 2016. However, there was a resurgence in 2018 and 2019, with 89,000 and 106,000 cases reported, respectively. Following setbacks in immunisation coverage during the COVID-19 pandemic, cases rose sharply again in 2023 and 2024. Vaccination rates in many countries have not yet returned to pre-pandemic levels, increasing the risk of outbreaks.

Measles spreads easily across borders, and outbreaks occur wherever vaccine coverage is insufficient, particularly among children. Currently, children under five account for over 40% of cases in the European region, with more than half requiring hospitalisation.

“Measles cases across Europe and Central Asia have soared over the past two years, pointing to gaps in immunisation coverage,” said UNICEF’s Regional Director for Europe and Central Asia, Regina De Dominicis.

In 2023 alone, 500,000 children in the region missed their first dose of the measles vaccine (MCV1), which should be administered through routine immunisation services.

“To protect children from this deadly and debilitating disease, we need urgent government action, including sustained investment in healthcare workers,” she said.

Kluge also stressed the importance of maintaining high vaccination rates.

“We can’t afford to lose ground,” he said. “Without high vaccination rates, there is no health security. Every country must step up efforts to reach undervaccinated communities. The measles virus never rests, and neither can we.”

UN agencies emphasised that vaccination is the best line of defence against the virus.

In 2024, Romania recorded the highest number of cases in the region, with 30,692, followed by Kazakhstan with 28,147.

At the same time, less than 80% of eligible children in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Romania received the MCV1 vaccine in 2023. In Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro, coverage rates have remained below 70% and 50%, respectively, for over five years—well below the 95% required for herd immunity.

UNICEF and WHO are working with governments, the European Union, and the GAVI Alliance to prevent and respond to measles outbreaks. Efforts include engaging with communities, training healthcare workers, strengthening vaccine programmes and disease surveillance systems, and launching catch-up immunisation campaigns.

The UN agencies urged governments in countries with active outbreaks to intensify case finding, contact tracing, and emergency vaccination campaigns.

“It is imperative that countries analyse the root causes of outbreaks, address weaknesses in their health systems, and strategically utilise epidemiological data to identify and close coverage gaps,” they stated.

“Reaching hesitant parents and marginalised communities and tackling inequitable access to vaccines must be central to all efforts,” they added.

Countries without current measles outbreaks were also advised to be prepared by identifying and addressing immunity gaps, building public trust in vaccines, and maintaining strong health systems. {Punch}