Spain loses status as a country without measles and health strengthens its management strategyAEP Vaccination Advisory Committee

Spain is losing its measles-free status and health is strengthening its control strategy

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Spain is no longer considered a country free of endemic measles transmission, according to an official announcement by the European Regional Monitoring Committee for the Elimination of Measles and Rubella (CRV) of the World Health Organization (WHO).

This decision, communicated to the Ministry of Health on January 27, 2026, represents a significant setback in the fight against a disease that has been considered eradicated in the country since 2016. With the recovery in the number of registered cases, a decrease in vaccination rates and an increase in the importation of cases from other countries in the last two years, the position of WHO has been reinstated to restore the status of Spottis.

This event triggered an immediate response from health authorities, who are already working to update the action plan to eliminate measles and rubella.At the same time, the Advisory Committee on Vaccines and Antibiotics of the Association of Spanish Pediatricians (CAV-AEP) reiterates the importance of promoting childhood vaccination and recommends the introduction of a second dose of the MMR vaccine (MMR / SRPV) before the age of 24 months, a measure that can help improve public protection in the main context of risk.

Keep coming back in times since 2024

The data analyzed by the WHO show that measles occurs continuously in Spain.In 2024, 227 cases were found and in 2025, the number rose to 397, according to the Ministry of Health's epidemiological reports.A significant number of cases occurred with unvaccinated or incomplete instructions, which shows the vulnerability caused by gaps in vaccine coverage.

In addition, during 2024, 30 outbreaks were recorded in 12 autonomous communities, mostly small in size, but sufficient to show that the virus is circulating sustainably in the region.The WHO considers local transmission to exist when transmission of the virus continues for more than 12 consecutive months, Spain again meeting this criteria after several years without local cases.

Factors explain the decline

The recovery of endemic infection in Spain is not an isolated phenomenon.Other European countries, such as Austria, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan and Great Britain, have also lost their exclusion status in recent months.The World Health Organization attributes this global revival to several factors:

- A decline in vaccination coverage, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic, which has disrupted routine vaccination programs in many countries.

- Migration and the increase in imported cases are especially important in countries where transmission chains associated with endemic diseases have been identified, such as Morocco or Romania.

-Information and reluctance to vaccinate, which makes some groups unable to meet the recommended schedule

The Ministry of Health emphasized that despite the increase in cases, the risk of long-term spread remains moderate due to the historically high coverage in the country.However, it recognizes the need to strengthen epidemiological surveillance and restore optimal levels of immunization.

Organizational Response: Updating the Strategic Plan

Following the WHO notification, Health has announced an update to the Measles and Rubella Elimination Strategic Plan developed in collaboration with the Carlos III Institute of Health.Planned actions include:

- Strengthening of epidemiological and laboratory surveillance for rapid detection of new cases

- Strengthening recruitment campaigns for unvaccinated people, especially vulnerable groups

- Review of outbreak response protocols to ensure rapid and coordinated response

- Assessment of possible adjustments to the vaccination schedule in agreement with autonomous communities and scientific societies

CAV-AEP Recommendation: Submit a second dose of SRP/SRPV.

In this context, CAV-AEP reiterated the recommendations it has put forward since 2025.The second dose of MMR/SRPV vaccine will be given after 24 months, instead of at 3-4 years of age as indicated in the official calendar.

CAV-AEP notes that two treatments are needed to ensure greater than 95% protection and that early administration of the second dose is safe and effective.

The loss of measles-free status is a clear warning about the fragility of public health gains.Although Spain maintains a robust surveillance structure and extensive experience in controlling vaccine-preventable diseases, the resurgence of cases suggests that measles eradication is irreversible.

A coordinated response by the Ministry of Health, private communities, international organizations and scientific organizations is the key to restoring the eradication of the virus.In this effort, the vaccine is also a strategic center: to ensure high protection, fill gaps and change the calendar to the current needs of the epidemic.

In this regard, the CAV-AEP recommendation to extend the second dose of the MMR/SRPV vaccine to 24 months is presented as a potentially effective measure that can strengthen children's protection and help stop the spread of the virus at a critical time.

- National Central Central Central Central Central.Spain's Institute.Ministry of Health.September 2020.

- European Regional Certification Commission for the Elimination of Measles and Rubella (RVC).

- The Center for the European Center for Control and Control.The effect.Son: ECDC.Leleman from the 2024 epidemiological report. ECDC: ECDC;

- The impact in Spain of the increase in measles and outbreaks throughout the world in Europe.Rapid Risk Assessment, First Update.Coordination Office for Health and Emergencies, Ministry of Health.Madrid, March 7, 2025.

- Ministry of Health - Situation report on measles (27.01.2026).

- Ministry of Health - Press release on WHO report (27.01.2026).

- World Health Organization (WHO) - 14th Meeting of the European Regional Committee for the Elimination of Measles and Rubella (RVC), Copenhagen, Denmark 15 - 17 September 2025.

- Strategic plan to eliminate measles and rubella in Spain.Effects of surveillance.Annual Report 2024.

More information on this website

-CAV-AEP.Vaccination and immunization schedule of the Spanish Pediatric Society.Reasons and basis for the 2026 recommendations.

- CAV-AEP.AEP Online Immunization Manual.Measles.

- Cav-AEP news.Global alert: Measles rebound calls for urgent and coordinated action July 13, 2025.

- CAV-AEP news.Situation of measles in Spain |April 20, 2025.

- CAV-AEP.More news about measles.