UK and certain European countries lose WHO’s measles-free status

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Source: Pharmaceutical Technology

Original: https://www.pharmaceutical-technology.com/news/uk-and-certain-european-countries...

Published: Tue, 27 Jan 2026 15:21:55 +0000

The World Health Organization (WHO) removed the United Kingdom, Spain, Austria, Armenia, Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan from the list of measles-free countries.[1] The decision was taken in September last year based on data from 2024, but published only on Monday after the consent of the affected states.[1] For a country to acquire or maintain measles-free status, no locally transmitted case of the same strain must occur within 12 months.[1] The UK's change of status reflects a wider challenge in the WHO European Region.[1] Measles transmission occurs regularly in countries such as France and Romania.[1] Canada lost this status last year, and the number of infections is increasing in the US.[1] Measles is completely preventable by vaccination.[1]