Measles in Europe: Where are cases of one of the world's most contagious diseases on the rise?

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RFI
By Gabriela Galvin
Published on 03/06/2025

A handful of countries have reported measles outbreaks this year, with Romania reporting by far the highest number of cases. This is the picture for the rest of the European Union.

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 measles cases have been reported across the European Union, according to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC).

Over the past year, many cases have been among unvaccinated children under the age of five, the agency says.

Related Measles cases in Europe and Central Asia at highest level in over 25 years

Measles is usually a mild or moderately severe illness, but in some cases it can lead to deadly complications. It’s extremely contagious, but vaccination is effective at keeping people from getting sick.

Here’s where cases are highest in 2025, according to ECDC data through the end of April.

A map displays the measles cases reported in the EU in 2025.

Measles in Romania

The vast majority of the EU’s measles cases are in Romania, which has reported 3,605 infections as of late April. Three people have died.

The country’s years-long outbreak has been driven by anti-vaccine sentiment, conflicting health guidance, and a medical system struggling to keep up.

In 2023, just 62 per cent of the population was fully vaccinated against measles, far below the 95 per cent threshold needed to prevent outbreaks.

Related Romania’s measles crisis: What’s driving Europe’s biggest outbreak?

Measles in France

There have been 526 measles cases so far this year in France, spurred in part by a "notable 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 who brought the virus in from Morocco, compared to 26 cases in 2024.

In 2023, 93 per cent of people in France were fully vaccinated. But if there are pockets of unvaccinated people in a community, measles can easily take hold.

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 into the Netherlands.

Dutch health authorities said there are "clusters" of measles infections, for example, at primary schools or childcare facilities, with most cases among children under the age of 10.

But they stressed there is no national measles outbreak.

At 81 per cent, the Netherlands has one of the lowest measles vaccination rates in the EU. Only Romania and Cyprus (80 per cent) had lower coverage levels.

Measles in Italy

In Italy, 268 measles infections have been recorded so far in 2025. Overall, in the year ending in late January, it’s had more cases than anywhere in the EU except Romania.

The country’s measles vaccination rate was 85 per cent in 2023, too low to stave off outbreaks.

Related 21 million fewer children are receiving critical vaccines than before COVID, WHO says

Measles in Spain

Spain is experiencing outbreaks in several parts of the country, resulting in 251 measles infections this year. Several cases were also imported from outside of Spain, the ECDC said.

Notably, 92 per cent of people in Spain were fully vaccinated against measles in 2023, landing the country near herd immunity.

In May, the Spanish Ministry of Health encouraged people to check their vaccination status amid the uptick 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.