WHO Says UK and Several European Nations Lose Measles-Free Status as Infections Surge

By Rosemary

Britain and a number of other European countries have lost their measles elimination status following a sharp rise in infections across the region, the World Health Organization said on Monday, warning that declining vaccination rates are allowing a preventable disease to regain a foothold.

Alongside the United Kingdom, Spain, Austria, Armenia, Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan were also stripped of their measles-free designation after health authorities recorded sustained transmission of the virus. The WHO urged governments to intensify vaccination efforts, particularly among communities with low immunization coverage, to curb the spread and prevent more children from becoming infected.

Measles is one of the most contagious viral diseases known and, while entirely preventable through vaccination, it is often among the first illnesses to resurface when immunization levels fall. The disease typically causes fever and a distinctive rash, but it can also lead to severe complications such as pneumonia, brain inflammation and, in some cases, death.

Public health experts say the resurgence of measles reflects a broader global trend of declining confidence in vaccines, a shift that has become more pronounced since the COVID-19 pandemic. Rising outbreaks of measles and other preventable illnesses have raised concerns that hard-won public health gains are being reversed in populations increasingly skeptical of immunization programs.

“The UK’s change in status reflects a wider challenge facing countries across the European region,” the WHO said in a statement. The agency noted that several other nations, including France and Romania, already experience regular measles transmission and remain at risk of larger outbreaks if vaccination gaps persist.

Outside Europe, the trend has also raised alarms. Canada lost its measles elimination status last year, while the United States is working to retain its designation amid an increase in reported cases.

The WHO determines whether a country is measles-free based on surveillance data and case rates. To maintain elimination status, a country must record no continuous local transmission of the same measles strain for at least 12 consecutive months. Committees within each WHO region assess the data annually before making determinations.

The decision to revoke the elimination status of several European countries was made in September, based on infection data from 2024. The WHO said the information was released publicly this week after all affected countries completed the review and approval process.

Health officials stress that high vaccination coverage is essential to prevent outbreaks. The WHO estimates that at least 95% of a population must receive two doses of the measles vaccine to maintain herd immunity. In the UK, however, vaccination rates have fallen well below that threshold. Government figures show that only 84.4% of children received both recommended doses in 2024.

That decline coincided with a sharp rise in infections. England recorded 2,911 confirmed measles cases last year, the highest number since 2012, according to official data.

In response to the WHO announcement, the UK Health Security Agency reiterated its call for parents to ensure their children are fully vaccinated, emphasizing that immunization remains the most effective way to protect individuals and communities from measles.

Britain was first granted measles elimination status in 2016, only to lose it two years later amid falling vaccination rates. The country regained the designation in 2021, but health authorities now warn that sustained efforts will be needed to restore and maintain measles-free status once again.

The WHO said reversing the current trend will require renewed public trust in vaccines, stronger outreach to under-protected groups and sustained political commitment to immunization programs across Europe and beyond.