The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has reported a 35% increase in measles cases in the United States in the last week of surveillance. Since the beginning of the 2025, 222 cases of measles have been reported in 12 different states: Of these, 79% were in children and young adults under the age of 19, 94% of whom had not been vaccinated, while 4% had received one dose. For 38 of these cases, hospitalization was required. Two deaths have already been reported: a six-year-old child in Texas and an adult in New Mexico, although the latter has not yet been officially confirmed.
In Europe, the latest data update from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) reveals an alarming surge in the spread of measles during 2024 compared to 2023, with over 32,000 cases reported in one year. Italy, with 1,097 cases in the period considered, is among the countries with the most infections reported after Romania, which recorded 27,568 cases. Germany (637 cases), Belgium (551) and Austria (542) follow in third, fourth and fifth places respectively. Romania has reported 18 deaths, while Ireland has reported one. The ongoing transmission of the disease underscores the need for enhanced vaccination coverage against this highly contagious illness. In the most severe cases, the disease can lead to complications such as pneumonia and encephalitis, which can result in permanent disabilities including blindness, deafness, and intellectual disabilities.
