Why are measles cases rising?

Who is at risk?

Any non-immune person (not vaccinated or vaccinated but did not develop immunity) can become infected. Babies and young children, pregnant women, and people with a weakened immune system are at increased risk.

The overwhelming majority of measles deaths occur in poorer countries or countries with weaker health systems that struggle to reach all children with immunisation.

Your risk of getting measles goes up if you:

are unvaccinated, particularly if you’re young or pregnant.
have travelled outside the country.
live in an area where many people are unvaccinated.
are low in vitamin A.
have a compromised immune system due to
a condition or medical treatment.

Did you know?

After you have measles once, you usually have immunity and are unlikely to have it again.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) recently warned of an “alarming” 45-fold increase in measles cases across Europe in 2023. More than 42,000 people were infected in 2023, compared to 941 during the whole of 2022. There are currently large outbreaks in many Asian, Middle Eastern, African and European countries.

The current increase in cases can most likely be explained by a decline in the overall vaccination rates globally, which are below the WHO recommended uptake. In order to prevent measles outbreaks, at least 95 per cent of the population must have received two doses of the vaccine. If measles is imported into communities where vaccination coverage is below 95 per cent, the risk of outbreaks increases.

Health experts say some parents have underestimated the seriousness of measles because it had largely been eradicated. In addition, many routine vaccinations were missed during the COVID pandemic. The low level of vaccination has also been attributed to misinformation in the past which falsely linked the MMR jab to autism. In 1998, Andrew Wakefield published a study in the Lancet journal that claimed a thoroughly debunked connection between the MMR vaccine and autism. His misleading research led him to lose his medical license. There is no evidence linking the MMR vaccine with autism.

Check you have been fully vaccinated

More than half the world's countries will be at high or very high risk of measles outbreaks by the end of the year unless urgent preventative measures are taken, according to the World Health Organisation.

To prevent measles infection and spread from importation, it is recommended that you are up-to-date on your MMR vaccinations, especially before travelling to any international destination. Parents are encouraged to check that their children are also fully vaccinated. If you are not sure about your immunisation history, you can check with your doctor to confirm immunity through vaccination or infection.