Europe, Central Asia saw rises of measles cases

The number of measles cases across Europe and Central Asia has soared over the past two years. 2024 reported the highest number of measles cases in 27 years, with more than 127,350 cases reported 40 per cent of whom were children under the age of five.

Across the Region comprising 53 countries in Europe and Central Asia, more than half of the reported cases required hospitalization. A total of 38 deaths have been reported, based on preliminary data received as of 6 March 2025. 

UNICEF and WHO are working together with governments, and with support of partners including the European Union and the GAVI Alliance, to prevent and respond to measles outbreaks by engaging with communities, training health care workers, strengthening immunization programmes and disease surveillance systems and initiating measles immunization catch-up campaigns.