Romania leads EU measles

Romania has become the European Union’s main measles hotspot after a steep drop in childhood vaccination left large immunity gaps. (ecdc.europa.eu) Between February 1, 2024, and January 31, 2025, Romania reported 27,568 measles cases in the European Union and European Economic Area, far ahead of Italy’s 1,097 and Germany’s 637. Eighteen measles deaths were recorded in Romania in that period. (ecdc.europa.eu) The outbreak eased in 2025, but Romania still reported 4,198 measles cases for the year, about 55.5% of all European Union cases, according to UNICEF and the World Health Organization. Cases are still being detected in 2026. (unicef.org) The reason measles keeps returning is simple: the virus spreads through the air and exploits pockets of unvaccinated people. The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control says at least 95% of people need two doses of measles, mumps and rubella vaccine to prevent outbreaks. (ecdc.europa.eu) Romania is far below that threshold. UNICEF said estimated 2024 coverage was 78% for the first measles dose, leaving about 40,000 children unvaccinated, and 62% for the second dose, leaving about 77,000 without full protection. (unicef.org) The problem is not only Romania’s. WHO and UNICEF said Europe and Central Asia reported 127,412 measles cases in 2024, then 33,998 in 2025, a drop of nearly 75% that still left the region above most years since 2000. (unicef.org) European health officials say the virus is now circulating in multiple countries after the lull during the COVID-19 years. ECDC reported 32,265 measles cases across the European Union and European Economic Area from February 2024 to January 2025, and said eight in ten patients were unvaccinated. (ecdc.europa.eu) The 2025 total in the European Union fell to 7,655 cases, but deaths continued: four in France, three in Romania and one in the Netherlands. ECDC said community spread was still driving transmission at the start of 2026. (ecdc.europa.eu) In the most recent 12-month window tracked by ECDC, from February 1, 2025, to January 31, 2026, European Union countries reported 6,037 measles cases. Romania no longer had the highest monthly count in January 2026, but it still ranked among the top five countries that month. (ecdc.europa.eu) WHO and UNICEF said the conditions behind the resurgence have not been fixed: routine coverage remains below target, under-vaccinated communities remain exposed, and endemic transmission has reappeared in more countries. Romania’s outbreak has become the clearest measure of what happens when that gap persists. (unicef.org)