THE cases of measles in 2025 have literally exploded: Public Health France has recorded 873 cases, or 80% more than in 2024, and seven deaths. This report, published on May 18, 2026, shows the strong comeback of a disease that we thought was in decline.
During the Covid-19 pandemic, the circulation of measles had almost disappeared with health restrictions. Since then, diagnoses have started to rise again, against a backdrop of missed vaccination appointments and mistrust. The authorities now fear new outbreaks among poorly protected adolescents and young adults.
Serious cases of measles in 2025: what the French results show
In its bulletin, Public Health France details often severe forms. The agency states: “Among these cases, 314 (36%) were hospitalized (including 12 in intensive care), 121 cases (14%) presented a complication (including 70 pneumonia(s) and 2 encephalitis(es)).” Figures which remind us that measles is not trivial.
Concerning the reported deaths, the agency specifies that “4 deaths attributable to measles have been reported, all in immunocompromised patients“. The other three concerned previous infections or already complex situations.
Infants, fragile people and adults who are not or incompletely vaccinated remain most at risk of complications.
Adolescents, adults: who are the new faces of measles?
The profile of patients illustrates this shift. The median age of cases reaches 16.7 years. Children aged 1 to 4 represent 15% of infections, 10 to 14 year olds 12%, as do 15 to 19 year olds, while those aged 40 and over account for 14%.
Among those affected by vaccination, a large proportion were not adequately protected. According to Public Health France, “Last year, more than half of French cases, 60.3%, were not vaccinated or were incompletely vaccinated.“. Coverage remains below the 95% threshold recommended to eradicate the disease, which fuels viral recovery.
Measles: a French increase in a global wave
The authorities point out that the French situation is part of a tense international context. The WHO and the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control report nearly 151,000 cases of measles in 2024 in Europe and Central Asia. Epidemics in Morocco and Romania contributed to the 128 imported cases observed in France.
In the United States, the situation is even more worrying with the worst epidemic in more than 30 years. Nearly 2,300 cases have been recorded in 2025 and nearly 2,000 since the start of 2026, and Health Minister Robert Kennedy Jr is accused of making the situation worse by relaying a false theory linking the MMR vaccine to autism. In France, 71 departments reported a case and 114 cluster case situations, or 530 people, were identified. Faced with this resumption, Public Health France calls “to strengthen vaccination catch-up efforts“, targeting “especially adolescents and young adults“, and proposing the
MMR vaccine to stop the circulation of the virus.