Europe records the highest measles injuries in more than 25 years, as vaccination decreased

Children under the age of five formed more than 40 percent of the reported cases in the region – which includes 53 countries in Europe and Central Asia. More than half of the cases were required to enter the hospital.

38 deaths were reported, based on the initial data received until March 6, 2025, according to a report issued by the two international agencies.

The measles cases in the region in general decreased since 1997, when about 216,000 cases were reported, and reached its lowest level at 4,440 cases in 2016.

However, the return of the disease was observed during the years 2018 and 2019 and the cases increased significantly again in 2023 and 2024, after the decline in immunization coverage during a pandemic Kofid-19. Vaccination rates in many countries are no longer to pre -pandemic levels, which increases the risk of disease outbreaks.

Alarm

Dr. Hans Henry Klog, Regional Director of the World Health Organization of Europe, said: “The measles, and this is a warning bell. Without high vaccination rates, there is no health security. While we constitute our new regional health strategy for Europe and Central Asia, we cannot bear the loss of more progress. Each country must intensify efforts to reach societies that suffer from a lack of vaccination. Measles virus is not rest – and we also cannot.”

The European region formed a third of all measles in the world in 2024. In 2023 alone, about half a million children were missed throughout the first dose of the measles vaccine, which must be given through routine fortification services.

The need for an urgent government move

Regina de Dominis, UNICEF Regional Director of Europe and Central Asia, said: “Measles have increased throughout Europe and Central Asia significantly over the past two years – indicating the presence of gaps in the coverage of immunization. To protect children from this deadly and delusional disease, we need an urgent government move that includes sustainable investments in health care workers.”

What do you know about measles?

Measles is one of the most infected viruses. In addition to entering the hospital and death caused by complications that include pneumonia, encephalitis, diarrhea and dehydration, measles can cause healthy, long -term hypnotic complications such as blindness.

It can also cause immune system damage by “erasing” its memory of how to fight infection, which makes the survivors of measles vulnerable to other diseases. Vaccination is the best defense line against the virus.