Measles Cases in European Region Highest in More Than 25 Years
The World Health Organization (WHO) reported that measles cases in the European region more than doubled from 2023 to 2024, reaching about 127 000—the highest number since 1997. The increase has been linked to a lack of vaccination coverage: half a million children across the region—which comprises 53 countries in Europe and central Asia—missed their first dose of the measles vaccine (MCV1) in 2023. Children aged 5 years or younger accounted for about 2 out of 5 cases of the highly contagious virus.
The World Health Organization (WHO) reported that measles cases in the European region more than doubled from 2023 to 2024, reaching about 127 000—the highest number since 1997. The increase has been linked to a lack of vaccination coverage: half a million children across the region—which comprises 53 countries in Europe and central Asia—missed their first dose of the measles vaccine (MCV1) in 2023. Children aged 5 years or younger accounted for about 2 out of 5 cases of the highly contagious virus.
