Measles

Measles is a highly contagious viral infection that can lead to severe complications and even death in rare cases. Children under 5 years of age are particularly at risk. Measles vaccination has had the biggest impact on reducing child mortality and illness over the past 50 years. The European Medicines Agency (EMA) evaluates, recommends and monitors vaccines against diseases such as measles in the European Union (EU).

Measles can lead to serious complications including pneumonia and encephalitis (swelling of the brain). It can even lead to death in rare cases.

Vaccination can prevent such severe outcomes. 

However, measles remains a public health threat. Its burden is especially significant in areas with low vaccine coverage, including certain parts of the EU.

This is fuelled by widespread misinformation and disinformation about the safety and effectiveness of vaccines.

For more information on measles and other vaccine-preventable diseases, see: 

• Vaccine-preventable diseases: key facts
• European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC): Measles

Data visualisations on measles

Increase in measles cases

Cases of measles in Europe have risen significantly between 2019 and 2025.

This is according to the European Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (EDCD). 

Increase in measles cases: Text version

157% increase in the number of cases of measles reported in the 30 European Union (EU) / European Economic Area (EEA) Member States over six years (between 2019 and 2025):

• Between 1 February 2019 and 31 January 2020 - 12,521 cases of measles reported in the EU / EEA
• Between 1 February 2024 and 31 January 2025 - 32,265 cases of measles reported in the EU / EEA

Prevalence of measles in unvaccinated people

According to ECDC, among people with known vaccination status, 86% of those diagnosed with measles between early 2024 and 2025 were unvaccinated.

Prevalence of measles in unvaccinated people: Text version

86% of people infected with measles between 2024 and 2025 were unvaccinated.

8 out of 10 children aged one to four years were unvaccinated when they contracted measles.

Lives saved by measles vaccines

Vaccination is key in protecting communities from measles outbreaks.

Widespread vaccination is estimated to have prevented 94 million deaths worldwide between 1974 and 2024.

This is according to a study from The Lancet.

Lives saved by measles vaccines: Text version

94 million lives saved worldwide in the past 50 years thanks to measles vaccines. This is more than the population of Germany in 2024 - 83,5 million. Germany is the largest country in the EU.

For more information, see:

• The Lancet: Contribution of vaccination to improved survival and health: modelling 50 years of the Expanded Programme on Immunization

How contagious is measles

Only high vaccination coverage can stop measles from spreading in a population, as measles is very contagious.

However, vaccination levels in the EU had shown a decreasing trend between 2019 and 2025, according to ECDC.

How contagious is measles: Text version

Measles is highly contagious.

At least 95% of the population must be protected with two doses of a measles vaccine to stop the disease from spreading.  

For more information, see:

• ECDC: Measles on the rise again in Europe: time to check your vaccination status (11/03/2025)

Authorised vaccines against measles

There is no specific treatment for measles once someone is infected.

Vaccination remains the most effective way to prevent measles and protect individuals and communities from its potentially severe consequences.

In April 2025, two centrally authorised vaccines offering a strong protection against measles were available in the EU:

• M-M-RVaxPro
• ProQuad 

EMA's role

Both M-M-RVaxPro and ProQuad vaccines are safe and effective. They have undergone rigorous testing and approval processes.

EMA recommended their authorisation and is continuously monitoring their safety.

Since their authorisation, only the most commonly observed vaccine side effects have been detected. They include fever and injection site redness, pain and swelling.

For more information on EMA's role in evaluating and monitoring medicines, including vaccines, see:

• What we do