Brussels wastewater found to contain measles virus

A study conducted by the Catholic University of Leuven has identified notably elevated concentrations of the measles virus in the wastewater of Brussels, with a peak observed on 11th March 2025. However, research by the Vivalis Health Institute has revealed that only 18 measles cases have been reported in Brussels this year. The B3 strain identified in Brussels is genetically similar to the strain currently circulating in Morocco, where a severe measles epidemic has been ongoing since the end of 2023, with more than 25,000 cases and approximately 120 deaths reported.