Measles Cases in Europe and Central Asia Double in 2024, Reaching 27-Year High

The WHO reports over 127,000 cases and 38 deaths, emphasizing the urgent need to restore vaccination rates to pre-pandemic levels.

The WHO recorded 127,350 measles cases in Europe and Central Asia in 2024, the highest since 1997 and double the previous year's total.
Romania and Kazakhstan were the most affected countries, with nearly 31,000 and 28,000 cases respectively.
Approximately 40% of cases involved children under five, and half of all infected individuals required hospitalization.
Vaccination rates dropped significantly during the COVID-19 pandemic, leaving 500,000 children in the region unvaccinated in 2023.
Health experts stress that achieving a 95% vaccination rate is critical to prevent outbreaks and ensure public health security.