6 European countries, including UK and Spain, lose measles elimination status
Six countries in the World Health Organization’s European region, including the United Kingdom and Spain, have re-established endemic measles transmission based on reporting from 2024, according to data released by WHO on Monday.
The determination was made by the WHO European Regional Verification Commission for Measles and Rubella Elimination after reviewing country reports for 2024 and previous years. The commission concluded that 13 countries are now considered endemic for measles, including six that were found to have re-established transmission after previously achieving elimination.
The six countries are Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Spain, the United Kingdom and Uzbekistan, according to WHO data.
“The UK’s change of status reflects a broader challenge we’re facing across the WHO European Region,” a spokesperson for WHO said. “Persistent immunity gaps led to a Region-wide resurgence in measles and other vaccine-preventable diseases in 2024 and a decrease in the number of countries that have achieved or sustained measles elimination status.”
According to the commission’s findings, 32 of the region’s 53 member states provided evidence showing interruption of endemic measles transmission for at least 36 months, meeting the criteria for elimination. 49 countries demonstrated elimination of endemic rubella, and 32 met the criteria for elimination of both measles and rubella.
The commission said one country interrupted measles transmission for 12 months, while the rubella elimination status of three countries remains under review pending additional data.
Most reported measles cases in 2024 occurred among unvaccinated individuals, the commission said. It reiterated that sustained vaccination coverage of at least 95% with two doses of measles- and rubella-containing vaccines is required to achieve and maintain elimination.
The commission also raised concerns about delays in detecting outbreaks and gaps in immunization response, warning that slow action can allow imported cases to spread in populations with immunity gaps.
Reuters reported that the decision to remove measles elimination status from some countries was made in September based on 2024 data, but was only released this week after receiving formal sign-off from all affected countries.
Health authorities in the Americas have said the United States and Mexico will undergo reviews of their measles elimination status following outbreaks reported in 2025, months after Canada lost its elimination status following a year-long outbreak.
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Ella Rae Greene, Editor In Chief
