Measles in the EU/EEA: current outbreaks, latest data and trends – October 2017
Measles outbreaks continue to occur in a number of EU/EEA countries, and there is a risk of spread and sustained transmission in areas with susceptible populations. New data published today by ECDC in the Communicable Disease Threat Report (CDTR) show that from January 2016 to October 2017, nearly 19 000 measles cases were reported in the EU, including 44 deaths. The CDTR also shows that the highest number of cases in 2017 were reported in Romania (7 570), Italy (4 617) and Germany (891). The spread of measles across Europe is due to suboptimal vaccination coverage in many EU/EEA countries. ECDC is also publishing today the monthly and biannual measles and rubella surveillance monitoring reports that provide more in-depth analysis of the situation.
Of all measles cases reported across the one-year period 1 September 2016 - 31 August 2017 with known vaccination status, 87% were not vaccinated. Measles increasingly affects all age groups across Europe. In 2016, 25.5% of measles cases were above 20 years of age; in 2017, this percentage increased to 47%. The three countries mostly affected by measles over 2016 and the first half of 2017 show different trends: Romania saw a sharp increase in cases from October 2016, and the trend continues in 2017; in Italy, the increasing trend started in January 2017, while in Germany it began in February 2017. This data is based on analysis of the cases notified to ECDC and included in the monthly and biannual monitoring reports.
The latest available figures on vaccination coverage collected by WHO (2016) show that the vaccination coverage for the first dose of measles was below 95% in 18 of 30 EU/EEA countries; for the second dose of measles, it was below 95% in 20 of 27 EU/EEA countries reporting second dose coverage data.
In order to achieve the measles elimination goal, the vaccination coverage rates for children targeted by routine vaccination programmes should increase in a number of countries, as the vaccination coverage of the second dose must be at least 95% to interrupt measles circulation and achieve herd immunity. This is particularly important to protect children below one year of age, who are particularly vulnerable to complications of measles but are too young to have received the first dose of vaccine.
Read more
ECDC collects measles data on a monthly basis via The European Surveillance System (TESSy). In addition, ECDC monitors measles and rubella epidemiology and outbreaks via epidemic intelligence.
For a complete overview of data regarding measles outbreaks in the EU/EEA in 2016 and 2017, the following outputs are available and regularly updated:
- CDTR “Measles and Rubella, Monitoring European and worldwide outbreaks” (Epidemic intelligence data)
- Monthly measles and rubella monitoring report (a concise report with TESSy data from 1 September 2016 – 31 August 2017)
- Bi-annual measles and rubella monitoring report (an extensive report, TESSy and epidemic intelligence data presented, with data from 1 January 2016 – 30 June 2017)
- ECDC Atlas of Infectious Diseases (TESSy data)
