Very low circulation of the measles virus, closely linked to the measures implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic

Like most European countries, France saw a rapid drop in the number of reported cases starting in April 2020, followed by virtually no viral circulation.

Following an epidemic year in 2019, viral circulation remained active during the first quarter of 2020, with 230 cases (96%) reported between weeks 1 and 13, then became virtually absent starting in April 2020, continuing through the first quarter of 2021. This situation is linked, on the one hand, to improved infant vaccination coverage, but was also very likely facilitated by the government measures implemented to combat the COVID-19 epidemic: the lockdown imposed in France between March and May 2020, preventive measures, mask-wearing, physical distancing, curfews, etc., which had an effect on the transmission of other respiratory pathogens.

The circulation of the virus was limited to one-third of the entire country (34 departments), with mainly a few sporadic cases, except for 6 departments (67, 74, 01, 59, 33, 93), where outbreaks were observed during the first quarter, primarily within communities of travelers.

• See also: View ECDC data by month and by country.

Key Points for 2020 Regarding Measles

• 240 cases of measles were reported in 2020 (compared to 2,636 cases in 2019), representing a reporting rate of 0.36 cases per 100,000 inhabitants. The highest rate was observed among children under 1 year of age: 5.3 cases per 100,000.

• Six departments reported outbreaks during the first quarter, primarily within the traveling community, highlighting that there is still a risk of spread due to low vaccination coverage and/or vulnerable populations.

• 72 cases were hospitalized (30%), including 3 in intensive care (1.3%)

• 23 cases had pneumonia (including 19 hospitalized). No cases of encephalitis or deaths were reported.

Since the introduction of mandatory vaccination for infants in 2018, the goal of 95% MMR vaccination coverage by age 2 is expected to be reached soon, at least for the first dose. To interrupt the circulation of the virus and eliminate measles, a strengthened catch-up vaccination campaign remains necessary to increase vaccination coverage in older age groups, particularly among adolescents and young adults. Otherwise, the occurrence of new large-scale epidemic waves remains possible in France in the coming years, as has been observed in mainland France and in several other European countries in recent years.

• View national vaccination coverage data

Measles: The Importance of Vaccination

Today, there is no specific treatment for the measles virus, and only very high vaccination coverage could lead to the disease’s permanent eradication.

Healthcare professionals must systematically check and update the measles vaccination status of anyone aged 12 months or older who was born after 1980. According to the current vaccination schedule, all such individuals should have received two doses of the MMR (measles-mumps-rubella) vaccine.

Santé publique France has launched a website dedicated to vaccination (Vaccination Info Service), featuring a section on measles vaccination.

The website vaccination-info-service.fr is a leading resource on vaccination for the general public and healthcare professionals. It provides factual, practical, and scientifically validated information to answer various types of questions (searching for information by profile, about a specific disease, about vaccination in general, or about a particular vaccine, etc.). People are encouraged to review their vaccination status and consult their doctor for more information regarding their specific situation.

• Explore the measles prevention resources for healthcare professionals and the general public

What is measles?

Measles is one of the most contagious infections, with complications that can be severe, and it can potentially be eradicated through high vaccination coverage.

In France, although measles vaccination coverage among 2-year-olds is steadily increasing, it currently falls short of the 95% needed for elimination. Globally, measles remains one of the major infectious diseases. The challenge is therefore to achieve sufficiently high vaccination coverage through the global elimination plan implemented by the World Health Organization.