Measles resurgence in France forces vaccination push after 80% case rise in 2025

France recorded 873 measles cases in 2025, an 80% increase over the previous year, according to Santé publique France. The surge led to 319 hospitalisations, 15 intensive‑care admissions and seven deaths, four of which were adults with weakened immune systems.

More than 60% of the infected individuals were either unvaccinated or only partially vaccinated, highlighting a gap in coverage well below the 95% target needed to halt transmission. Health authorities are calling for intensified catch‑up campaigns, especially aimed at adolescents and young adults, and for integrating the MMR vaccine into existing school‑based immunisation programmes.

The French situation mirrors a broader European resurgence, with thousands of cases reported across the continent and importations from neighboring countries such as Morocco and Romania. Similar spikes have been noted in the United States, where the outbreak has been linked to misinformation about vaccine safety.