Measles alarm after festival: Six cases in the Freyung-Grafenau district!

Measles alarm after festival: Six cases in the Freyung-Grafenau district!

Several cases of measles occurred in the Freyung-Grafenau district of Bavaria after an international festival in Jandelsbrunn. Six people were infected after taking part in or around the event in early May. Loud South German newspaper Twelve other cases of measles are also known in Poland, Italy, the Czech Republic and England, which are also connected to the festival. The festival attracted around 400 visitors from different countries, which encouraged the spread of the highly contagious disease.

The first case of measles was reported by the Freyung-Grafenau Health Department at the end of May. Another case occurred at a secondary school in Freyung. An unvaccinated classmate there had to stay at home for three weeks as a precaution. The vaccination rate against measles in the district is around 60% of children born in 2021 who were vaccinated twice by the age of 24 months. In comparison, the Bavarian vaccination rate is almost 77% overall. The Haßberge district has the highest vaccination rate in Bavaria at almost 89%.

Warning about measles

The Bavarian State Office of Public Health warns urgently about measles as a very contagious infectious disease. The progression can result in serious health problems, particularly immune deficiency. Loud Destatis Children under five and adults over 20 are particularly at risk. Vaccinations are an effective way to significantly reduce the risk of infection.

After a decline in measles cases during the Covid-19 pandemic, there has been an increase in cases in 2023. Over 127,350 cases of measles were reported in Europe in 2024, the highest number in more than 25 years. Children under the age of five accounted for 40% of cases, while a total of 79 cases of measles occurred in Germany in 2023, according to the WHO.

Vaccination rates in international comparison

The vaccination rate for the second dose against measles in Germany is 93%. In order to sustainably prevent the disease from spreading, a vaccination rate of 95% is considered necessary. Compared to other EU countries, Hungary has the highest vaccination rate at 99%, while Romania has the lowest at 62%. The latter country also recorded the highest incidence of measles cases in the EU, with 192.3 cases per 1 million inhabitants in 2023.

The current situation highlights the need to take vaccinations seriously and educate about the dangers of measles to prevent future outbreaks.