Measles cases across Europe were up 10-fold in 2024 compared to 2023, while cases in the Americas so far this year are 11-fold higher, according to updates today from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO).
Moreover, the ECDC said the 2024 measles cases in the European region followed a seasonal pattern, which was not noted in 2021 through 2023. In 2024, a total of 35,212 measles cases were reported across the European region, compared to 3,973 in 2023.
The reports come as US states continue to confirm more infections.
Romania has by far the most cases
About 87% of the European cases were reported in Romania, which had the highest notification rate, at 1,610.7 cases per 1,000,000 population, followed by Austria (59.5), Belgium (44.9) and Ireland (39.6).
Twenty-three measles-related deaths were confirmed in 2024, of which 22 were in Romania, and 14 of the 23 were in children aged 5 years or younger. Children under the age of 1 year represented 13% of measles cases, and children 1 to 4 years represented 33.1% of cases. Among the 90% of case-patients with known vaccine status, 87% were unvaccinated, and 98% of infected babies (younger than 1 year) and 90% of children 1 and 4 years old with measles were unvaccinated.
The ECDC said dropping vaccine rates are contributing to the post-pandemic spike in measles activity across the county: In 2024, only three countries, Hungary, Malta, Portugal, had had coverage of 95% or more for both doses of the measles vaccine.
Most cases last year in the European region were reported in February through July, with a decline in the second half of the year. 'The marked resurgence in 2024 emphasizes a return to more typical measles seasonal patterns, but at significantly elevated levels compared to the pandemic and pre-pandemic years," the ECDC said.
Cases climb 11-fold in Americas
Today the WHO warned that, compared with late April of last year, measles cases have increased 11-fold in the Americas, with six countries reporting 2,318 measles cases, including 3 deaths—all in the United States—so far this year. From January 1 tto April 18, 2024, only 205 cases of measles were reported in the region.
The six countries reporting measles case this year are Argentina, Belize, Brazil, Canada, Mexico, and the United States, with the United States reporting the largest outbreak, at 900 cases.
Difficulty in maintaining adequate levels of vaccination in the migrant population, vaccine-hesitant groups and other at-risk populations within the Region are big challenges.
"Difficulty in maintaining adequate levels of vaccination in the migrant population, vaccine-hesitant groups and other at-risk populations within the Region are big challenges," the WHO said. "Given that several countries in Europe, Central Asia and Africa have areas of circulation of the virus, the identification of imported cases from these areas is expected."
More travel-related US cases
In US developments, Austin, Texas, health officials reported the second case in Travis County, in a vaccinated adult who had traveled to a state outside Texas that is experiencing a measles outbreak. The patient is isolating at home.
Late last week Colorado reported its fifth case, involving a vaccinated adult who had traveled to an outbreak area in Chihuahua, Mexico.
And Los Angeles County is reporting a measles case in a resident who had recently traveled to Texas.
