The US has recorded its first measles-related death in a decade, as hundreds of cases are reported across Texas and New Mexico. But while hundreds of measles cases in 2025 are cause for concern in the US, the European region (a 53-country bloc spanning Western Europe to Central Asia) reported 127,350 cases in 2024.
For the same period, 38 measles-related deaths were reported in Romania, Kyrgyzstan, Russian Federation, Ireland and the United Kingdom. This corresponds to a case-fatality rate of 29 per 100,000 measles cases.
Following exceptionally low numbers of reported cases during the pandemic years, more cases were reported in 2024 than in any other year for a quarter of a century. Last year saw twice as many cases as in 2023.
The WHO European region aims to eliminate measles and rubella, as part of the Immunization Agenda 2030. To help track progress on these goals, WHO Europe has published interactive dashboards populated with national statistics on vaccine uptake and disease outbreaks. Officials say these tools, developed with financial support from the European Union, will support a data-driven approach.
The dashboards show regional progress and provide country profiles for a range of vaccine-preventable diseases. For example, users can compare Romania, where measles is endemic and measles vaccination rates are 78% (1st dose), with Portugal which is measles-free thanks to its 98% vaccine uptake. (Romania might also look to neighbouring Moldova which is measles free.)
‘The new European Immunization Agenda 2030 dashboard enables health authorities, partners and the public to monitor progress in the control or elimination of vaccine-preventable diseases in the WHO European Region,’ said Dr Roberta Pastore, Team Lead, Vaccine-preventable diseases and immunization programme, WHO Regional Office for Europe.
‘Easier access to the data reported to WHO also facilitates a data-driven approach to strengthening immunization programmes and increasing vaccination coverage at country level.’
The dashboards also track data on under-immunisation populations, uptake of other vaccines, and policies/legislation that supports the European Immunization Agenda 2030. It highlights some of the success stories of vaccination in Europe where measles vaccines have saved 7.8 million lives since 1974.
However, it also points to clear vulnerabilities. Several countries in Europe are not achieving their target of delivering two doses of measles vaccine to 95% of children. Until this rate of vaccine uptake is achieved in every community, in every region of every country, measles outbreaks will continue.
Outbreak is a ‘wake-up call’.
WHO and UNICEF officials issued a joint warning that low immunisation rates leave the region highly vulnerable to ongoing outbreaks.
‘Measles is back, and it’s a wake-up call,’ said Dr Hans Henri P. Kluge, WHO Regional Director for Europe. ‘Every country must step up efforts to reach under-vaccinated communities. The measles virus never rests – and neither can we.’
The European Region accounted for a third of all measles cases globally in 2024. In 2023 alone, 500 000 children across the Region missed the first dose of the measles vaccine (MCV1) that should be given through routine immunisation services.
‘Measles cases across Europe and central Asia have soared over the past two years – pointing to gaps in immunization coverage,’ said Regina De Dominicis, UNICEF Regional Director for Europe and Central Asia. “‘To protect children from this deadly and debilitating disease, we need urgent government action including sustained investment in health-care workers.
