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Rachel V Thomas

Measles Again On The Rise Globally: Is India At Risk?

From Europe to Africa to North America to Australia, measles cases are rising across continents. The main driver: declining vaccination rates and immunity gaps.

As of March 26, 1,575 confirmed measles cases were reported in the United States in 2026, according to the latest data published by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 

There have been 16 new outbreaks reported in 2026, and 94% of confirmed cases (1,483 of 1,575) are outbreak-associated (359 from outbreaks starting in 2026 and 1,124 from outbreaks that started in 2025). In 92 percent of cases, measles occurred among those with no vaccination.

Mexico's Ministry of Health recently reported a significant increase in measles cases in 2026, with more than 7,400 confirmed infections recorded since the beginning of the year.

A PAHO report in February shared a 43-fold increase in measles cases across seven countries — Bolivia, Canada, Chile, the United States, Guatemala, Mexico, and Uruguay — with no deaths reported.

Active outbreaks have been reported in London and Birmingham in the UK. In Europe, recurring outbreaks have been reported in Italy, Spain, France and Romania. 

A measles alert has also been issued for the Gold Coast area after two cases were confirmed to have been contracted by people overseas and then brought home to Australia.

Earlier this week, Bangladesh reported a measles outbreak that reportedly led to the death of at least 38 children, leading health authorities to roll out a vaccination program for younger children in a bid to halt the outbreak. 

Official data show that in 2026, more than 2,300 children were admitted to hospital with suspected measles, of whom 684 have tested positive so far.

Amid these outbreaks, HealthandMe spoke to public health experts to understand whether these cases can increase the risk of the highly contagious disease in India. While India has a better vaccination rate with the Measles and Rubella (MR) Vaccine, some pockets in rural areas may increase the risk.

"In India, the catch-up vaccination drive named Mission Indradhanush was intensified in 2024, successfully rectifying the vaccination gaps that occurred during the COVID pandemic. But the disease can still spread among pockets of the population where vaccination coverage remains low,” Dr. Rajeev Jayadevan, Ex-President of IMA Cochin and Convener of the Research Cell, Kerala, told HealthandMe.

"The proven method to stop measles is to build an 'immunity wall' within the community—by vaccinating at least 95 percent of people—so that the virus repeatedly runs into 'road blocks' and eventually dies out, instead of getting a free ride infecting everyone. When vaccination coverage drops due to many reasons, outbreaks happen, and complications follow," he added. 

Also read: <a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health-news/measles-in-oahu-visitor-sparks-exposure-risk-in-hawaii-report-article-153790336" data-type="tilCustomLink">Measles In Oahu Visitor Sparks Exposure Risk In Hawaii: Report</a>

Measles is a highly contagious virus that spreads through direct contact or through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes. 

Symptoms typically appear seven to 14 days after exposure and may include: 

Measles is a vaccine-preventable disease that can cause devastating complications, including blindness, pneumonia, encephalitis, and long-term immune dysfunction.

The reports of deaths from Bangladesh indicate the presence of a significant 'immunity gap,” allowing the virus to take hold, said Dr. Jayadevan. He added that among the unvaccinated, measles is one of the most contagious viruses on Earth—spreading even faster than COVID-19.

Dr Neha Rastogi, Senior Consultant - Infectious Diseases, Fortis Gurugram, told HealthandMe that although the Measles-Rubella (MR) vaccination campaign has played a major role in reducing cases and preventing large-scale outbreaks by building community immunity in India, "there is still some risk of Measles spread in India".

"Although cases have declined significantly, outbreaks can occur due to gaps in vaccination coverage, especially in rural or densely populated areas. Migration, low awareness, and missed immunization doses also contribute to the risk,” she added.

"Measles spreads rapidly because it is a highly contagious viral disease transmitted through respiratory droplets when an infected person coughs or sneezes," Dr Rastogi told HealthandMe.

She noted that crowded living conditions, poor ventilation, and low immunity levels increase the risk of transmission. 

"Lack of awareness, malnutrition (especially vitamin A deficiency), and incomplete or missed vaccination also contribute to outbreaks. The virus can remain active in the air or on surfaces for several hours, making it easy to infect others,” the infectious disease expert said.

The CDC noted that measles transmission may also occur during travel.

"Travelers with fever and other overt signs of transmissible illness, such as coughing or malaise, should be strongly encouraged to delay travel while symptomatic,” it said.

Dr. Jayadevan said that the rising global measles cases are "a reminder that no one is safe until everyone is safe. India must strive to identify those pockets where vaccination coverage is low and undertake intensive corrective measures, taking the community into confidence through effective awareness campaigns".

To safeguard against measles, individuals should ensure timely vaccination, especially for children.

Maintaining good hygiene, such as frequent handwashing and covering the mouth while coughing or sneezing, helps reduce transmission.

Avoiding close contact with infected individuals and ensuring proper nutrition to boost immunity are also important.

Public awareness and community health programs play a crucial role in prevention.

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From Europe to Africa to North America to Australia, measles cases are rising across continents. The main driver: declining vaccination rates and immunity gaps. As of March 26, 1,575 confirmed measles cases were reported in the United States in 2026, according to the latest data published by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.  There have been 16 new outbreaks reported in 2026, and 94% of confirmed cases (1,483 of 1,575) are outbreak-associated (359 from outbreaks starting in 2026 and 1,124 from outbreaks that started in 2025). In 92 percent of cases, measles occurred among those with no vaccination. Mexico's Ministry of Health recently reported a significant increase in measles cases in 2026, with more than 7,400 confirmed infections recorded since the beginning of the year. A PAHO report in February shared a 43-fold increase in measles cases across seven countries — Bolivia, Canada, Chile, the United States, Guatemala, Mexico, and Uruguay — with no deaths reported. Active outbreaks have been reported in London and Birmingham in the UK. In Europe, recurring outbreaks have been reported in Italy, Spain, France and Romania.  A measles alert has also been issued for the Gold Coast area after two cases were confirmed to have been contracted by people overseas and then brought home to Australia. Earlier this week, Bangladesh reported a measles outbreak that reportedly led to the death of at least 38 children, leading health authorities to roll out a vaccination program for younger children in a bid to halt the outbreak. Official data show that in 2026, more than 2,300 children were admitted to hospital with suspected measles, of whom 684 have tested positive so far. Amid these outbreaks, HealthandMe spoke to public health experts to understand whether these cases can increase the risk of the highly contagious disease in India. While India has a better vaccination rate with the Measles and Rubella (MR) Vaccine, some pockets in rural areas may increase the risk. "In India, the catch-up vaccination drive named Mission Indradhanush was intensified in 2024, successfully rectifying the vaccination gaps that occurred during the COVID pandemic. But the disease can still spread among pockets of the population where vaccination coverage remains low,” Dr. Rajeev Jayadevan, Ex-President of IMA Cochin and Convener of the Research Cell, Kerala, told HealthandMe.  "The proven method to stop measles is to build an 'immunity wall' within the community—by vaccinating at least 95 percent of people—so that the virus repeatedly runs into 'road blocks' and eventually dies out, instead of getting a free ride infecting everyone. When vaccination coverage drops due to many reasons, outbreaks happen, and complications follow," he added.  Also read:  Measles In Oahu Visitor Sparks Exposure Risk In Hawaii: ReportWhat Is Measles? Measles is a highly contagious virus that spreads through direct contact or through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes. Symptoms typically appear seven to 14 days after exposure and may include: high fever, cough, runny nose, red eyes, rashes across the body.Measles And VaccinationMeasles is a vaccine-preventable disease that can cause devastating complications, including blindness, pneumonia, encephalitis, and long-term immune dysfunction. The reports of deaths from Bangladesh indicate the presence of a significant 'immunity gap,” allowing the virus to take hold, said Dr. Jayadevan. He added that among the unvaccinated, measles is one of the most contagious viruses on Earth—spreading even faster than COVID-19. Dr Neha Rastogi, Senior Consultant - Infectious Diseases, Fortis Gurugram, told HealthandMe that although the Measles-Rubella (MR) vaccination campaign has played a major role in reducing cases and preventing large-scale outbreaks by building community immunity in India, "there is still some risk of Measles spread in India". "Although cases have declined significantly, outbreaks can occur due to gaps in vaccination coverage, especially in rural or densely populated areas. Migration, low awareness, and missed immunization doses also contribute to the risk,” she added. How Does Measles Spread  "Measles spreads rapidly because it is a highly contagious viral disease transmitted through respiratory droplets when an infected person coughs or sneezes," Dr Rastogi told HealthandMe. She noted that crowded living conditions, poor ventilation, and low immunity levels increase the risk of transmission. "Lack of awareness, malnutrition (especially vitamin A deficiency), and incomplete or missed vaccination also contribute to outbreaks. The virus can remain active in the air or on surfaces for several hours, making it easy to infect others,” the infectious disease expert said. The CDC noted that measles transmission may also occur during travel. "Travelers with fever and other overt signs of transmissible illness, such as coughing or malaise, should be strongly encouraged to delay travel while symptomatic,” it said. Dr. Jayadevan said that the rising global measles cases are "a reminder that no one is safe until everyone is safe. India must strive to identify those pockets where vaccination coverage is low and undertake intensive corrective measures, taking the community into confidence through effective awareness campaigns". How To Stay Safe  To safeguard against measles, individuals should ensure timely vaccination, especially for children. Maintaining good hygiene, such as frequent handwashing and covering the mouth while coughing or sneezing, helps reduce transmission. Avoiding close contact with infected individuals and ensuring proper nutrition to boost immunity are also important. Public awareness and community health programs play a crucial role in prevention.

measles again on the rise globally: is india at risk?

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