Measles: infections rise, one in three cases with hepatitis and pneumonia as complications
Last January 84 cases were recorded, 50 more than a year ago: the virus continues to circulate mainly among unvaccinated young adults
Key points
The year 2026 opens with an increase in measles cases, including complications. The National Surveillance System of the National Institute of Health recorded 84 infections, up from 34 in the same month of 2025. Three of the reported cases (3.6 %) are imported and 2 related to imported cases. These numbers are small at the moment but indicate a clear trend. "After two years of high incidence of measles contagions in Italia, with 1,055 cases in 2024 and 532 in 2025, 2026 begins with a new increase in January," underline the experts from the Infectious Diseases Department of the Iss - "The virus continues to circulate in the country, especially among unvaccinated young adults.
96.4% of cases concentrated in six regions
Almost all cases (96.4%) came from only 6 regions (Lombardy, Tuscany, Lazio, Campania, Apulia and Calabria). The median age of the reported cases is 28 years, however the highest incidence is observed in the 0-4 years age group and 2 cases were reported in children under one year of age.
"Vaccination status," explains the periodic newsletter Measles & Rubella News, "is known for 91.7 per cent of the cases, 90.9 per cent were unvaccinated at the time of infection. More than a third of the cases reported at least one complication: the most frequent were pneumonia and hepatitis/increased transaminases. Among the reported cases, five were health workers (of whom four were unvaccinated at the time of infection and one was vaccinated and had received two doses).
The European situation: almost 8 thousand cases and 8 deaths in 2025
In Europe, the Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (Ecdc) recently reported, between 1 January and 31 December 2025, 30 EU/EEA countries reported 7,655 measles cases and 8 deaths: 4 in France 3 in Romania and one in the Netherlands. "Although the total number of infections in 2025 represents a significant decrease from the more than 35,000 cases in 2024," the Iss points out, "it is almost double the number of cases reported in 2023. The highest reporting rates were observed in infants under one year of age (261.6 cases per million) and children aged between one and four years (127.4 cases per million).
79.9% of the cases were unvaccinated, 10.3% were vaccinated with one dose of measles vaccine, 7.9% were vaccinated with two doses and 1.7% were vaccinated with an unknown number of doses.
