An Alarming Emergence of Measles in Europe: Gaps and Future Directions

Measles remains a significant public health problem in Europe, including Trkiye, with an alarming increase in the number of reported cases in recent years.We reviewed the current epidemiological landscape of measles in Europe, explored the reasons for increase in the cases such as challenges in vaccination coverage, and present the future directions.Measles can cause severe complications, including pneumonia, encephalitis, and death, and is associated with a high transmission rate.The World Health Organization (WHO) has set a target vaccination coverage of at least 95% for the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine to achieve herd immunity.However, several European countries are struggling to meet this target, resulting in numerous outbreaks.Based on the latest WHO report, from April 2023 to March 2024, 114,563 measles cases have been reported from the European Region, and 98% of these cases have originated from just ten countries, including Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, the Russian Federation, Kyrgyzstan, and Turkey. 1 Although the targeted coverage rate in Trkiye has almost reached 94%, the high incidence of measles needs to be investigated. 2Countries such as Germany, Greece, and France have also reported significant increases in the number of measles cases.In Germany, 333 confirmed and suspected cases of measles were reported between January and June of 2024.The WHO report also highlights that 55% of the reported cases were imported, emphasizing the importance of maintaining high vaccination coverage to prevent the spread of measles across borders.The highest number of cases were reported among children aged 1-9 years, followed by those aged 10-19 years and patients aged 25-34 years.This highlights the need for targeted vaccination campaigns in these age groups.