Travel experts warned that cases of a contagious illness are rising worldwide (Image: Getty)<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n Brits planning a holiday this summer have been warned they must be \u201cup-to-date\u201d with their vaccines. This comes amid an \u201cincrease\u201d in measles cases worldwide, including in parts of Europe and Asia.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Measles is a highly contagious viral illness that causes cold-like symptoms, red eyes, and a distinct blotchy rash. In serious cases, it can lead to severe complications like meningitis and seizures, and can prove fatal.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n In an update on the Travel Health Pro website<\/a>, experts explained that the illness has surged in various countries<\/a>. They said: \u201cThe summer holidays provide opportunity to explore different countries, head off for a city break, have a beach holiday or take the children to visit friends and family overseas.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cGood preparation and planning ahead helps ensure a safe and enjoyable trip. Travellers should be up to date with routine vaccination courses<\/a> and boosters as recommended in the UK.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cThese vaccinations include, for example measles-mumps-rubella (MMR). Measles is a risk in many countries, and there has been an increase in measles cases and outbreaks reported worldwide, including in parts of Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Americas, including Canada and the United States.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Symptoms of measles include a distinctive rash (Image: Getty)<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n Data from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control<\/a> found that there were a total of 3,607 measles cases reported by 30 EU\/EEA member states in the year after April 1, 2025. Going into more detail, it said: \u201cOf 3,029 individuals (84.0% of all cases) with a known age and vaccination status, 2 369 (78.2%) were unvaccinated, 320 (10.6%) were vaccinated with one dose of a measles-containing vaccine, 301 (9.9%) were vaccinated with two or more doses, and 32 (1.1%) were vaccinated with an unknown number of doses.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cDuring the 12-month period, five deaths (case fatality rate (CFR): 0.139 %) attributable to measles were reported to ECDC by France (three), Netherlands (one) and Romania (one).\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n And a report<\/a> by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), found that measles cases in Europe were at their highest in 2024 since 1997. A total of 127,350 measles cases were reported in the European Region in 2024, double the number of cases reported for 2023 and the highest number since 1997.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Find out about the symptoms you need to watch out for and get health advice with our free health newsletter from the Daily Express<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n Children under five accounted for more than 40 per cent of reported cases in the region \u2013 comprising 53 countries in Europe and Central Asia. More than half of the reported cases required hospitalisation. A total of 38 deaths have been reported, based on preliminary data received as of 6 March 2025.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n The spread has been attributed to declining rates of vaccination. Dr Hans P Kluge, WHO regional director for Europe, commented to say: “Measles is back, and it\u2019s a wake-up call. Without high vaccination rates, there is no health security. As we shape our new regional health strategy for Europe and Central Asia, we cannot afford to lose ground.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cEvery country must step up efforts to reach under-vaccinated communities. The measles virus never rests\u2014and neither can we.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Measles cases are also rising in the UK. Figures from the UK Health Security Agency<\/a> (UKHSA) showed that in 2024, there were 2,911 laboratory-confirmed measles cases in England, the highest number of cases recorded annually since 2012. In 2025, there were a total of 959 laboratory-confirmed measles cases. Data for 2023 to 2025 and historical data are available.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Between 1 January 2026 and 11 May 2026, there have been 542 laboratory-confirmed measles cases reported in England, an increase of 65 cases since the last report on 27 April 2026.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Read more:<\/strong> Horror as Victorian-era disease rips through UK \u2013 nearly 500 new cases this year <\/a><\/p>\n![\"Man](\"https:\/\/cdn.images.express.co.uk\/img\/dynamic\/25\/1200x712\/secondary\/GettyImages-1616722161-1-6926912.jpg?r=1779107425169\" "\\"Man")
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