Measles: almost as many cases since the start of the year as in 2024 in France

France, like many other countries around the world, has been affected by a worrying resurgence of measles, which has been increasing since 2024.

Will measles affect even more French people in 2025 than last year? This is certainly the alarming trend being observed. According to a bulletin published on April 29 by Public Health France, 427 cases of measles were reported between January 1, 2025, and mid-April, "a total approaching the number of cases reported in 2024." Last year, 483 cases were reported in France, according to an annual report published on April 28.

The most affected by measles in 2025 were children under 4 years of age, then adults over 40, followed by those in their thirties and adolescents between 15 and 19 years of age. In less than 4 months, more than 140 people visited emergency rooms or were hospitalized, and nearly 60 suffered complications. One immunocompromised adult died. No deaths had been reported in 2024.

Public Health thus reminds that "vaccination with the MMR vaccine is the best way to protect against the virus and also to protect vulnerable people at risk of severe forms such as infants under one year old, pregnant women and immunocompromised people who cannot benefit from protection with a live attenuated vaccine." However, among those affected by measles and targeted for vaccination, the majority are "not or incompletely vaccinated."

Although this vaccine has been mandatory for children aged one and over since 2018, vaccination coverage is still not sufficient. Nearly 93% of 2-year-olds in France had received both doses of the vaccine by 2022. Vaccination coverage of at least 95% would be required to eradicate the disease.

A "resurgence in measles cases," observed since 2023, "continued and increased in 2024," with a fourfold increase in the number of cases between 2024 and 2023, when 117 cases were reported, according to the report from Public Health France. With this worrying increase in cases in 2024 and 2025, vaccination is particularly important. The number of cases nevertheless remains "limited compared to the average for years prior to the COVID-19 pandemic," Public Health France points out. Between 2017 and 2019, more than 2,000 cases were reported on average per year in France.

The country is far from alone in being affected by a resurgence of measles. The WHO and UNICEF warned in a press release at the end of April of the "particularly dangerous return" of measles worldwide. The organizations report that "over the past 12 months, 138 countries have reported cases of measles, of which 61 have experienced significant or disruptive epidemics, a record number since 2019."