Measles cases decline in Europe, but risks remain
According to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, only 11 of 26 reporting countries recorded new cases in February, with a total of 139 infections. The highest numbers were reported in Italy (63 cases), Spain (36) and France (16). Greece has not reported a measles case since July 2025.
Between March 2025 and February 2026, the ECDC recorded 4,623 cases across Europe, with the outbreak concentrated in Romania, France, Italy, Netherlands and Spain.
The agency attributes the outbreak largely to gaps in vaccination coverage, warning that declining public confidence in immunization — driven by “vaccine fatigue” and misinformation since the COVID-19 pandemic — continues to pose a significant risk.
Health officials stress that maintaining high vaccination rates remains critical to preventing future outbreaks.
In a more positive development, all EU countries now recommend HPV vaccination for both boys and girls, marking a step forward in broader disease prevention efforts.
