Over 127,000 cases of measles were confirmed across Europe and Central Asia in 2024, marking the highest total since 1997, according to data released by the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF.
The surge represents a doubling of cases compared to 2023, raising concerns about declining vaccination rates and the potential for widespread outbreaks. Nearly half of those infected were children under the age of five. The WHO’s European region accounts for one-third of all measles cases globally.
The increase follows a period of decline in measles cases in Europe and Central Asia, which began to reverse in 2018. Health officials attribute the resurgence to falling vaccination coverage, a trend exacerbated by disruptions to routine immunization programs during the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2023, approximately 500,000 children in the region did not receive their first dose of the measles vaccine.
“We have a serious situation, this is the highest number in 25 years,” said Pernilla Baralt, Secretary-General of UNICEF Sweden.
Several countries are experiencing particularly severe outbreaks. Romania reported over 30,000 cases in 2024, the highest national total in the region. Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Romania all have particularly low vaccination rates.
While the situation is concerning across much of the region, Finland reports a vaccination coverage rate of 92 percent as of 2023, indicating a comparatively stronger level of protection. However, overall vaccination coverage has decreased in most European countries, falling below the 95 percent threshold needed to achieve herd immunity.
The WHO has called on all countries to increase their vaccination efforts, emphasizing the importance of reaching vulnerable populations and ensuring equitable access to vaccines. Thirty-eight people died from measles in the region in 2024, with more than half of all cases requiring hospitalization.
