Since the beginning of 2025, the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur (PACA) region has reported 21 cases of measles, with 14 of those cases occurring in adults.

Notably, the Var region has seen 3 cases, while the Alpes-Maritimes has reported 9 cases, and 7 cases have been documented in the Bouches-du-Rhône.

This uptick in measles cases comes on the heels of a troubling twofold increase in measles incidence across Europe in 2024, reaching a 25-year high, according to data from the World Health Organization (WHO).

The regional health agency, Agence régionale de santé (ARS) PACA, has indicated that the region is experiencing a resurgence of this highly contagious infectious disease, which disproportionately affects adults as well as children.

Approximately 30% of the reported cases have required hospitalization, with several patients developing serious neurological or respiratory complications.

ARS has identified a link between the current outbreak in France and an ongoing epidemic in Morocco, which has contributed to the number of cases recorded in the PACA region.

As it stands, the region accounts for one-third of all measles cases reported in France since January 2025.

Measles is recognized as being ten times more contagious than influenza and is transmitted primarily through airborne droplets.

The period of contagion peaks five days prior to the onset of rash and persists for up to five days following the onset.

Clinical manifestations include an incubation period lasting between 10 to 12 days, leading into an initial phase characterized by fever, cough, and fatigue, followed by the appearance of a characteristic rash.

The ARS emphasizes the necessity of verifying vaccination status and recommends catch-up vaccinations for those who are not up to date.

This advice is particularly crucial for travelers departing to or returning from countries with active measles transmission, such as Morocco, which is currently experiencing a significant outbreak.

The measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccination is the most effective means of protection against measles.

Since January 1, 2018, vaccination against measles has been mandatory for children born on or after this date.

The recommended vaccination schedule includes two doses for children aged 12 to 24 months, along with specific guidelines for infants in communal settings prior to one year of age.

Individuals born after 1980 are required to have received two doses of the vaccine, while those born before this date are generally considered immune due to prior infection with the disease.

In 2024, the WHO reported 127,350 cases of measles across its European region, which encompasses part of Central Asia, alongside 38 measles-related deaths.

Romania and Kazakhstan experienced the highest incidence rates, with 30,692 and 28,147 cases respectively.

In 2023, it was noted that 500,000 children in Europe had not received their first dose of the vaccine, highlighting vaccination gaps.

Despite significant progress in reducing measles cases since 1997, the continent accounted for one-third of global measles cases in 2024, following a low of 4,440 cases in 2016.