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Date Published: 18/03/2025

Measles outbreak hits Spain with cases surging

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Spain registered more measles cases in the first two months of 2025 than all of last year

Measles outbreak hits Spain with cases surging

For many years now measles has taken something of a backseat to other common illnesses, thanks in large part to the high number of parents who choose to vaccinate their children. But the disease is making an unwelcome comeback in 2025, both in Spain and in the rest of Europe.

Here in Spain, measles cases have skyrocketed, with 142 cases reported in the first two months of the year compared to 229 in all of 2024, according to data from the National Epidemiological Surveillance Network of the National Epidemiology Centre of the Carlos III Health Institute (ISCIII).

By autonomous community, the data, which represent the period from January 1 to March 9, show that the Basque Country and Andalucía have reported the most cases, 91 and 15, respectively. Additionally, three cases have been reported in the Autonomous City of Melilla, two cases in Galicia, two in the Valencian Community and one in Madrid.

In recent decades, vaccines have been one of the most effective tools for eradicating serious diseases, such as measles, which previously claimed the lives of thousands of children each year. However, in many countries, a growing number of parents are choosing not to vaccinate their children, contributing to the resurgence of previously controlled diseases like measles. Misinformation and distrust in vaccines have become one of the greatest challenges to global public health.

Last Friday, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) reported the "highest" number of measles cases in Europe in 25 years, attributing it to the decline in vaccination, with nearly 90% of people diagnosed with measles in 2024 unvaccinated.

The Spanish Association of Paediatrics recommends that children receive the tetraviral vaccine, which combines vaccinations for chickenpox, measles, mumps and rubella, at the age of two. This vaccine reduces the risks associated with these diseases and provides fewer jabs and more protection.

The evolution of vaccines

The development of vaccines has come a long way since Englishman Edward Jenner administered the first jab in 1796, culminating in the development of the Covid-19 vaccination in a matter of months.

Today, vaccines are more effective and versatile, with the latest technological leap being the introduction of messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines. These essentially allow the body to produce its own vaccine, stimulating the immune response, and can be created in just weeks.

For every person with measles, 9 out of 10 unvaccinated people around them can become infected. Measles is highly transmissible and can cause serious complications such as pneumonia or encephalitis.

The tetraviral vaccine provides protection against measles, as well as chickenpox, mumps and rubella, and is essential for preventing the spread of the virus in the community.

In other news: 9 Spanish airports win international awards for quality and service

Image: Freepik

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