Europe is facing a disturbing resurgence of measles, a disease once thought to be all but eradicated on the continent, as gaps in childhood immunisation widen in the wake of the pandemic.
Health experts are warning of a “looming crisis” that could see the return of several preventable diseases, driven by vaccine scepticism, misinformation and disrupted healthcare systems.
Data from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) reveals a sharp uptick in measles cases across multiple EU member states, with notable outbreaks in Romania, France and Germany. The number of reported infections in the first quarter of 2025 already exceeds the entirety of 2024, a trend described by public health officials as “deeply concerning”.
Dr Annalise Weber, an epidemiologist with the ECDC, said the recent outbreaks were “entirely preventable”. Speaking at a press conference in Brussels, she said: “We are now seeing the consequences of years of declining vaccination uptake. Measles is not a trivial childhood illness — it can cause pneumonia, encephalitis and death. We are reaping the harvest of complacency.”
The resurgence comes against a backdrop of falling MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccine coverage, particularly among younger children. According to World Health Organization figures, MMR coverage in some European countries has dropped below the critical 95 per cent threshold required for herd immunity. In parts of Eastern Europe, that figure is as low as 78 per cent.
Experts have attributed the decline to a confluence of factors. Pandemic-related disruption to routine healthcare led to millions of missed vaccinations between 2020 and 2022. In parallel, vaccine hesitancy — already on the rise before COVID-19 — has been fuelled by misinformation on social media and a broader distrust of public health institutions.
“There has been a breakdown in trust,” said Professor Marc Duval, a paediatric infectious disease specialist based in Lyon. “What we are seeing is the legacy of fear and misinformation around vaccines. It started with COVID and has spilled over into childhood immunisations. It is a dangerous trajectory.”
In the United Kingdom, where measles was declared eliminated in 2017, health officials are on high alert. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued a fresh warning to parents and schools after small clusters of measles were detected in London, Birmingham and Manchester. Officials are urging families to check their children’s vaccination records and catch up on any missed doses.
Wes Streeting, the Health Secretary, has vowed to tackle the problem head-on, promising new outreach campaigns targeting communities with low uptake. “Vaccines save lives. The science is unequivocal. We will not allow misinformation to undermine decades of progress,” he said.
But some critics argue the Government’s response is too little, too late. Dr Rachel Lockwood, a GP in the Midlands, said: “We’ve been raising the alarm on falling vaccine rates for years. The focus on COVID diverted resources and attention away from other essential services. Now we are playing catch-up with lives at stake.”
The implications of the measles resurgence extend beyond individual health. Public health experts warn that unchecked outbreaks could strain healthcare systems already grappling with winter respiratory viruses and chronic staff shortages.
Moreover, measles may just be the canary in the coalmine. Falling immunisation rates risk the return of other once-rare illnesses, such as diphtheria and whooping cough.
“This is not just about measles,” said Dr Weber. “It’s about the fragility of our herd immunity. If these trends continue, we could face the re-emergence of diseases most of today’s doctors have never even seen.”
The ECDC is calling on all member states to reinvigorate immunisation programmes, including nationwide awareness campaigns, mobile vaccination units and targeted engagement with minority communities. It has also recommended mandatory reporting of vaccine coverage data at the regional level to help track and respond to emerging hotspots.
In France, President Emmanuel Macron has hinted at expanding compulsory vaccination laws for schoolchildren — a move likely to reignite fierce debate over personal freedoms versus public health obligations.
For now, the message from Europe’s health leaders is clear: the time to act is now.
“We have the tools. We have the vaccines,” said Dr Duval. “What we need now is the political and public will to use them — before more lives are lost.”
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