“Although the cases have reduced, the conditions that led to the resurgence of this deadly disease in recent years remain and need to be addressed,” said Regina De Dominicis, United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Regional Director for Europe and Central Asia.
53 countries in Europe and Central Asia reported 33,998 cases of measles in 2025, down from 127,412 in 2024.
The overall downward trend in cases reflects both outbreak response measures and the gradual decline in the number of people susceptible to measles infection as the virus made its way through undervaccinated communities, according to UN agencies.
Fighting deadly misinformation
However, many cases could have been prevented with higher routine vaccination coverage at the community level and more timely response to outbreaks, UN agencies said.
“Until all children are reached with vaccination and the hesitancy driven by the spread of misinformation is resolved, children will continue to be at risk of death or serious illness from measles and other vaccine-preventable diseases,” she warned.
Hans Henri P. Kluge, WHO Regional Director for Europe, said that measles elimination is essential for national and regional health security, stressing that “in today’s environment of rampant fake news, it is also crucial that people trust verified health information from reliable sources such as WHO, UNICEF and national health agencies.”
Measles is still present
The number of cases in 2025 still exceeded what has been reported in most years since 2000and some countries reported more cases in 2025 than in 2024. Measles cases continue to be detected in 2026 in the region, according to the WHO.
“Over 200,000 people in our region fell ill with measles in the last three years,” said Dr. Clever.
“Unless every community reaches 95 percent vaccination coverage, closes immunity gaps across all ages, strengthens disease surveillance, and ensures timely outbreak response, this highly contagious virus will continue to spread.”
Highly contagious
Measles is one of the most contagious viruses that affects humans. For every person who has measles, up to 18 other unvaccinated people will become infected.
This does Measles is about 12 times more contagious than influenza. In addition to hospitalization and death, the virus can cause long-term, debilitating health complications.
It can also damage the immune system by “erasing” its memory of how to fight infections for months to even years, leaving measles survivors vulnerable to other illnesses and death.
Two doses of measles-containing vaccine provide up to 97 percent lifelong protection against measles.
A 95 percent vaccination rate with two doses of the measles vaccine in each community each year is necessary to prevent measles outbreaks and achieve herd immunity, which protects infants too young for measles vaccination and other people for whom it is not recommended due to medical conditions, such as those who are immunocompromised.
Public health priorities
Outbreak preparedness and response alongside the goal of measles eradication remain public health priorities.
UNICEF and WHO are working together with governments and with support from partners including Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance and the EU, to prevent and respond to measles outbreaks in e.g.
- engage in communities
- training of health personnel
- strengthening immunization programs and disease surveillance systems
- initiation of catch-up campaigns for measles vaccination
