Europe Sees Highest Measles Cases in Nearly Three Decades

WHO reports 127,000 infections in 2024, urging stronger vaccination efforts to combat the resurgence of the highly contagious disease.

The WHO recorded 127,350 measles cases in its Europe and Central Asia region in 2024, the highest number since 1997 and double the previous year's total.
Romania and Kazakhstan reported the most cases, with nearly 31,000 and 28,000 infections respectively, while 38 measles-related deaths were confirmed in the region.
Children under five years old accounted for 40% of all cases, and half of the infected individuals required hospitalization.
The resurgence has been linked to declining vaccination rates, exacerbated by disruptions during the COVID-19 pandemic, leaving 500,000 children in the region without their first dose of the measles vaccine in 2023.
Health experts stress the need for a 95% vaccination rate to achieve herd immunity and prevent further outbreaks of this highly contagious and potentially deadly disease.