ROMA (ITALPRESS) – Since the beginning of the year 459 cases of measles have been notified, of which 27 in September. Seventy cases reported in the period (15.3%) are imported cases and 26 are cases related to imported cases. The numbers are contained in the latest surveillance bulletin, published today by the Higher Institute of Health.
Twenty Regions/PPAA reported cases in 2025, but more than half of cases (299, 65.1%) were reported by only five Regions (Lombardy, Emilia-Romagna, Lazio, Calabria and Sicily). The highest incidence was observed in Calabria (32.7/million inhabitants) followed by the Marches (18.9/million), the P.A. of Bolzano and Lazio (17.3/million) and Sicily (17.0/million). At national level, the incidence in the period was 10.4 cases per million inhabitants. The average age of reported cases is 31 years (range: 0 – 71 years).
50.3% is between 15 and 39 years old and an additional 25.8% is 40 years or more. However, the highest incidence was observed in the age range 0-4 years (55.2 cases per million). 22 cases were reported in children under the age of 59.1 cases per million. The vaccination status is known for 434 of the 459 reported cases (94.6%), of which 376 cases (86.6%) were not vaccinated at the time of contagion, 38 cases (8.8%) were vaccinated with only one dose, 16 cases (3.7%) were vaccinated with two doses. For the remaining four cases vaccinated (0.9%), the number of doses received is unknown. Among the reported cases, 45 are health workers. The vaccination status is known for 43 of 45 cases: 33 were not vaccinated at the time of contagion, four were vaccinated with one dose and six had received two doses.
About one third of the cases (n=142; 30.9%) reported at least one complication. The most frequently reported complications were hepatitis/increase of transamines (n=54; 11.8% of total cases) and pneumonia (n=52; 11.3%) (Figure 3). Other reported complications include diarrhea, keratoconjunctivitis, respiratory insufficiency, stomatitis, thrombocytopenia, laryngotracheobronchite, otitis. Three cases of encephalitis were reported, respectively in two adults and in a preadolescent, all not vaccinated.
“The vaccination – the experts remember – is the only effective tool to protect against measles and its complications. In addition to strengthening routine pediatric vaccination, it is essential to recover coverage in teenagers and adults and ensure that even susceptible health professionals are vaccinated, protecting themselves and the most fragile patients. Before international travel, it is recommended to check your vaccination status.”.
Monitoring is coordinated by the ISS Infectious Disease Department, Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Mathematical Models and the National Laboratory for Morbillo and Rosolia with the contribution of the national network of Regional Reference Laboratories (MoRoNet).
-Photo IPA Agency-
(ITALPRESS).
