Measles in Europe: Where are the most cases of one of the most contagious diseases in the world?
One of the world's most contagious diseases is spreading in Europe. Measles has been on the rise for months. Last year was the worst for measles in Europe and Central Asia since 1997, with more than 120,000 cases reported across the region.
Health authorities have warned that cases are likely to rise in the coming months. So far in 2025, about 5,500 cases of measles have been reported across the European Union, according to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC). Over the past year, many of the cases have been among unvaccinated children under the age of five, the agency says.
Measles is usually a mild or moderately severe illness, but in some cases it can lead to fatal complications. It is extremely contagious, but vaccination is effective in preventing people from getting sick. Where are cases highest in 2025, according to ECDC data up to the end of April?
Measles in Romania
The vast majority of measles cases in the EU are in Romania, which has reported 3,605 infections by the end of April. Three people have died. The country’s multi-year outbreak has been fueled by anti-vaccination sentiment, conflicting health guidelines and a healthcare system struggling to keep up. In 2023, only 62% of the population was fully vaccinated against measles, well below the 95% threshold needed to prevent outbreaks.
Measles in France
There have been 526 measles cases so far this year in France, driven in part by a "noticeable increase" in the number of measles cases brought into the country this year, the ECDC said. At least 41 infections have been linked to someone bringing the virus from Morocco, compared with 26 cases in 2024. In 2023, 93% of people in France were fully vaccinated. But if there are several groups of unvaccinated people in a community, measles can spread easily.
Measles in the Netherlands
The Netherlands reported 371 measles infections in the first four months of 2025. More than two dozen cases were among people who contracted measles in Morocco or Romania and then came to the Netherlands. Dutch health authorities said there are "clusters" of measles infections, for example, in primary schools or childcare facilities, with most cases among children under 10 years old. But they stressed that there is no national measles outbreak. At 81%, the Netherlands has one of the lowest measles vaccination rates in the EU. Only Romania and Cyprus (80%) had lower coverage rates.
Measles in Italy
In Italy, 268 measles infections have been recorded so far in 2025. Overall, in the year ending in late January, there were more cases than anywhere in the EU except Romania. The country's measles vaccination rate was 85% in 2023, too low to prevent outbreaks.
Measles in Spain
Spain is experiencing outbreaks in several parts of the country, resulting in 251 measles infections this year. Some cases were also imported from outside Spain, the ECDC said. Notably, 92% of people in Spain were fully vaccinated against measles by 2023, bringing the country close to herd immunity. In May, the Spanish Ministry of Health encouraged people to check their vaccination status amid a surge in measles cases both worldwide and within Spain. “The resumption of mobility after the pandemic has increased the risk of imported cases ,” the ministry said.
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