(LONDON, January 27, 2026) — Several European countries, including the United Kingdom, have lost their measles-free status, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced, as infections rapidly increase across the continent.
The resurgence of measles in Europe underscores the critical importance of vaccination programs and the potential consequences of declining immunization rates.
- The UK, Spain, Austria, Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Uzbekistan have lost their measles-free status.
- The WHO is urging countries to increase vaccination rates, particularly among children with low immunization coverage.
- Measles is highly contagious and preventable through vaccination, but outbreaks occur when vaccination rates decline.
- Health experts warn that declining vaccination rates could lead to a resurgence of other preventable diseases.
Spain, Austria, Armenia, Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan also lost their recognition, according to the WHO. The WHO urged countries to prevent the spread of infection among children by increasing vaccination rates, especially among those with low vaccination rates.
Although measles is completely preventable through vaccination, it is highly contagious and is one of the first diseases to re-emerge when vaccination coverage declines. Symptoms commonly include high fever and rash, but it can also lead to severe long-term complications and death.
Health experts have warned that the global outbreak could signal a resurgence of other preventable diseases amid growing distrust and skepticism about vaccines since the coronavirus outbreak.
“The withdrawal of the UK’s accreditation reflects broader challenges facing the WHO European region as a whole,” the WHO said on its website, adding that several European countries, including France and Romania, already have regular measles cases.
Regional WHO committees will determine whether a country has eliminated measles based on case rates. The condition is that no domestic infection of the same strain has occurred for 12 months or more.
According to WHO estimates, immunization rates need to exceed 95% to contain measles. However, in the UK, only 84.4% of children received the two doses needed to achieve full immunity in 2024. There were 2,911 confirmed cases in the UK that year, the highest number since 2012, according to government data.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said on Wednesday that all children should be vaccinated to protect themselves from measles. The UK was certified as a measles-free country in 2016, but lost the designation in 2018 and re-certified it in 2021.
Why It Matters
The loss of measles-free status in several European nations is a significant public health concern. Measles is a highly contagious disease that can have serious complications, particularly for young children and individuals with weakened immune systems. The decline in vaccination rates, fueled by factors such as vaccine hesitancy and disruptions to healthcare services, poses a threat to the progress made in controlling this preventable disease. The WHO’s warning serves as a critical reminder of the importance of maintaining high vaccination coverage to protect populations from outbreaks and ensure public health security. The situation in the UK, with its vaccination rate of 84.4% and the highest number of cases since 2012, highlights the urgent need for intervention and increased vaccination efforts.
Time.news based this report in part on reporting by Reuters and added independent analysis and context.
