Measles vaccination coverage remains suboptimal in many EU/EEA countries. Sustained improvements are required in the coverage of routine childhood immunisation programmes, as well as closing immunity gaps in adolescents and adults who have missed vaccination opportunities in the past.
Measles vaccination coverage remains suboptimal in many EU/EEA countries. Sustained improvements are required in the coverage of routine childhood immunisation programmes, as well as closing immunity gaps in adolescents and adults who have missed vaccination opportunities in the past.
A once nearly-eliminated disease is making an alarming comeback across Europe, with more than 32,000 measles cases reported in just one year. Even more concerning, health officials have revealed that eight out of ten people diagnosed with the highly contagious virus were not vaccinated, highlighting dangerous immunity gaps across the continent.
After a period of unusually low activity during the COVID-19 pandemic, measles cases have skyrocketed, according to the latest data from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC). Between February 2024 and January 2025, officials recorded 32,265 measles diagnoses — a dramatic increase from the 2,361 cases reported in 2023.
The resurgence has already turned deadly. Romania, which reported the highest number of cases at 27,568, recorded 18 deaths attributed to measles during this period. Ireland also reported one death.
Public health experts point to insufficient vaccination coverage as the primary driver behind these outbreaks. Despite decades of vaccination campaigns, many European countries are failing to reach the 95% coverage threshold needed to prevent community transmission.
Measles spreads with remarkable efficiency through the air, traveling via respiratory droplets when an infected person coughs or sneezes. Its extreme contagiousness means it can rapidly sweep through communities with low vaccination rates.
Young children and unvaccinated adults are bearing the brunt of the current wave. According to the ECDC data, children between one and four years of age and adults aged thirty and older represent significant portions of the unvaccinated population contracting measles.
Among those diagnosed with measles between early 2024 and early 2025 who had information available on their vaccination status, a staggering 25,503 (86%) were unvaccinated. Perhaps most alarming, 84% of children aged one to four years with known vaccination status had not received their shots when they contracted the disease — despite this age group being the primary focus of immunization programs.
“Prevention of measles outbreaks and protection of vulnerable populations requires that at least 95% of the population eligible for vaccination receive two doses of the MMR vaccine,” the ECDC stated in its report. Current data reveals only four EU/EEA countries — Hungary, Malta, Portugal and Slovakia — have achieved this crucial coverage level for both doses.
The timing of this surge follows predictable seasonal patterns. The peak in 2024 occurred during the first six months of the year, and health officials warn that another increase is expected during spring 2025, when measles traditionally becomes more prevalent.
Behind the statistics lie real-world implications for vulnerable populations. The current immunity gaps leave many communities exposed, including infants too young for vaccination and individuals who cannot be immunized for medical reasons. These groups rely on what epidemiologists call “herd immunity” — when enough people are vaccinated that the disease cannot easily spread.
Dr. Andrea Ammon, Director of the ECDC, emphasized the importance of vaccination in a previous statement about measles resurgence: “The only way to protect infants too young to be vaccinated as well as people with immune deficiencies or who cannot be vaccinated for other medical reasons is to ensure that everyone else is vaccinated.”
The MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine has been used safely for decades. All EU/EEA countries include the recommended two doses in their national immunization schedules, typically giving the first dose between 12-15 months and the second between three and seven years, with variations between countries.
For parents and adults alike, health officials have straightforward recommendations: check your vaccination status and ensure you’re up to date with the recommended schedule. This is particularly important before international travel, as measles outbreaks are occurring globally. The vaccine takes at least two weeks to become effective, so advance planning is essential.
Those uncertain about their vaccination history should consult healthcare professionals, who can provide guidance on catching up with missed doses. Adults born before widespread MMR vaccination may have natural immunity from contracting the disease in childhood, but those without documented history of either vaccination or infection remain vulnerable.
Recognizing symptoms early is also critical. Measles typically begins with high fever, cough, runny nose, and red, watery eyes, followed by a characteristic rash that starts at the hairline and spreads downward. While most recover, the disease can cause serious complications including pneumonia, encephalitis, and in rare cases, death.
As Europe grapples with this resurgence, the message from public health officials remains clear: the tools to prevent measles exist, but they only work when used. With spring approaching and another potential spike on the horizon, checking vaccination records today could prevent serious illness tomorrow.
Did this article help you?
If you found this piece useful, please consider supporting our work with a small, one-time or monthly donation. Your contribution enables us to continue bringing you accurate, thought-provoking science and medical news that you can trust. Independent reporting takes time, effort, and resources, and your support makes it possible for us to keep exploring the stories that matter to you. Together, we can ensure that important discoveries and developments reach the people who need them most.