Measles Cases Surge in Europe: Breakdown of Highest and Lowest Affected Regions
Spread of Measles in Europe: A New Wave, Primary Affecting Romania
By Mert Can Yilmaz | Updated March 24, 2025
Take a step back, folks, because measles cases in Europe are skyrocketing. The numbers have nearly quadrupled over the past year, turning March 2025 into the most affected month between 2020 and 2025.
The latest report from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) reveals that there were 1,097 cases in total, with 809 cases confirmed as measles infections. The country hit hardest? You guessed it – Romania. The Eastern European nation recorded an astounding 397 measles cases, making it the EU's hotspot.
France and the Netherlands followed, with 161 and 95 confirmed cases, respectively. Unfortunately, Italy wasn't far behind, with 60 reported cases. On the positive side, at least nine EU countries managed to dodge the measles bullet and reported no cases all year.
Sadly, France was not as fortunate as some others, reporting one death due to measles in March 2025.
Let's look back at 2024 – the year that shook Europe. A whopping 35,000+ cases of measles were diagnosed across the EU and EEA, resulting in 23 unfortunate fatalities. That's a staggering number, and it's worth noting that more than a quarter of those diagnosed were over 14 years old.
Measles – one of the world's most contagious diseases – is airborne and primarily targets the respiratory system. It often causes symptoms like fever, cough, runny nose, and a distinct rash. In severe cases, measles can lead to pneumonia, encephalitis, dehydration, and even blindness.
March 2024 marked the highest peak, with nearly 3,967 cases recorded between 2020 and 2025.
So, what can be done to curb the outbreak and protect vulnerable populations? Easy – at least 95% of the eligible population needs to get two doses of the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine. Unfortunately, only Hungary, Malta, Slovakia, and Portugal are currently on track to achieve this target.
"Every dose matters, and timing is crucial for optimal protection," emphasizes Pamela Rendi-Wagner, director of the ECDC.
Here's a quick breakdown of the regions with the highest and lowest hospital concentration, along with the EU countries ranking best for women's health and leading the way in chronic health conditions management.
Fun Fact: Romania's measles outbreak has been one of the top 10 globally, according to WHO's provisional data[2]. The ECDC also highlighted ongoing outbreaks in several countries, including Austria, Cyprus, France, Germany, the Netherlands, and Portugal[1]. Additionally, measles virus mutations were detected in 18 countries, including Italy’s Lombardy region[1]. However, case numbers for 2020-2022 remain unspecified in the available reports[1][2].
- Portugal, though currently struggling to achieve the 95% vaccination target for measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR), could play a significant role in reducing the spread of measles by focusing on vaccination efforts.
- As the latest data shows, measles cases in Portugal have not beenzero in the past few years, indicating an ongoing threat of the disease in this country.
- In the realm of health and wellness, it's crucial to keep up-to-date on medical conditions like measles, especially chronic diseases, to ensure a healthy population and prevent outbreaks.
- Interestingly, vaccination statistics from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) reveal that Portugal is not alone in its struggle against measles; several other countries, including Austria, Cyprus, France, Germany, the Netherlands, and others, are also facing ongoing measles outbreaks.
