Measles outbreak declared in Romania

Vaccination coverage on downward trend for 10+ years

The Romanian Ministry of Health, or Ministerul Sănătății declared a nationwide measles outbreak on December 5.

In the first eleven months of 2023, officials reported 1,855 cases in 29 counties. No deaths have been recorded.

Mureș County, in the historic region of Transylvania has reported the most cases with 628. followed by Brasov (339) and Bucharest (213).

Vaccination coverage has been an issue in Romania. At the national level, 78% of children have received the first dose of the measles vaccine, while a mere 62% of eligible children have received the second dose.

Vaccination has been on a downward trend in Romania for more than the past decade.

The measles outbreak declaration will make it possible to vaccinate children the age of nine months, as well as the recovery of those unvaccinated or with an incomplete vaccination schedule.