Measles Makes a Comeback: Why Vaccination Rates Matter

Measles is back with a vengeance in Europe. The World Health Organization (WHO) recently announced that several countries, including the UK, have lost their measles-free status. This news comes after a surge in infections across the continent. Spain, Austria, Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Uzbekistan also joined the UK in losing their elimination status. Measles is a highly contagious disease that can cause serious health issues, including long-term complications and even death. The good news is that it's entirely preventable with a vaccine. However, vaccination rates have been declining, leading to a resurgence of the disease. Health experts warn that this trend could lead to more outbreaks of preventable illnesses, especially in populations that are skeptical of vaccines. The UK's loss of measles-free status is part of a broader problem in the WHO European Region. Several other countries, including France and Romania, already have regular measles transmission. Canada lost its elimination status last year, and the US is struggling to maintain its status as infections rise.To be considered measles-free, a country must have no locally transmitted cases of the same strain for at least 12 months. The decision to strip certain European countries of their status was made last September based on data from 2024. The WHO only released the information recently after getting approval from every country involved. Vaccination rates need to be high to keep measles at bay. The WHO estimates that rates must exceed 95%. However, in the UK, only 84. 4% of children had the two doses needed for full protection in 2024. Government data showed 2, 911 confirmed cases in England that year, the most since 2012. The UK Health Security Agency is urging all children to get vaccinated to protect themselves from measles. The UK first gained elimination status in 2016, lost it in 2018, and regained it in 2021. This back-and-forth shows how fragile progress can be when it comes to public health.