WHO Reports Sharp Increase in Measles Cases in European Region

March 14, 2025 TruthUSA

An outbreak of measles in Texas and New Mexico has recently garnered attention.

United Nations officials reported that the European region saw the highest number of measles cases since 1997 last year.

Last year, at least 127,350 measles cases were reported across the region, as stated in a report released this week by the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF. This region comprises 53 countries in Europe and Central Asia.

“Children under five made up over 40 percent of reported cases in the Region, with more than half of the cases necessitating hospitalization and resulting in 38 deaths,” the two UN organizations said in a statement.

Romania and Kazakhstan had the highest total cases with 30,692 and 28,147 cases, respectively, according to the UN groups.

“Countries without current measles outbreaks should be ready by identifying and addressing immunity gaps, building public trust in vaccines, and maintaining robust health systems,” WHO and UNICEF, formerly known as the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund, stated.

In the United Kingdom, over 200 cases have been reported recently, and many more are expected. Meanwhile, in the United States, measles outbreaks continue to spread in Texas and New Mexico, reaching 250 cases, with two deaths in unvaccinated individuals.

Measles is considered one of the most contagious viruses for people, with potential complications such as pneumonia, encephalitis, and dehydration, weakening the immune system’s defense against various pathogens, according to the WHO.

Less than 80 percent of eligible children in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Romania received their first measles vaccine dose in 2023, as per the WHO.

In a news release, Dr. Hans Kluge, WHO Regional Director for Europe, emphasized the importance of expanding measles vaccine coverage.

“As we develop our new regional health strategy for Europe and Central Asia, we must not regress. Each country must intensify efforts to reach under-vaccinated communities,” he said.

An ongoing measles outbreak in Texas and New Mexico has attracted recent attention.

As of March 14, the Texas Department of State Health Services reported 259 identified measles cases since January, mainly in Gaines County, with 34 patients hospitalized and one fatality in the state.

In New Mexico, cases have increased from 33 to 35, with two cases in Eddy County, and the remaining cases in Lea County, adjacent to Gaines County.

U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. recently stated that vaccinations are being provided in Texas, with positive outcomes seen in patients treated with vitamin A and other medications.

Measles symptoms include fever above 101 degrees Fahrenheit, cough, runny nose, red, watery eyes, and a rash appearing three to five days after initial symptoms, starting on the face and spreading to the body, officials note.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend measles vaccination, stating that one dose is 93 percent effective, while two doses are 97 percent effective against the virus.

Reuters and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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