Germany faces surge in measles cases

Germany is battling a dramatic rise in preventable illnesses, including measles and Hepatitis B, even though vaccines are readily available.

Experts attribute the trend to anti-vaccination messaging on social media, disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, and cases brought in from abroad.

Germany's federal disease control and prevention agency, the Robert Koch Institute, has reported a major spike in cases of measles this year, which it says poses a fatal threat, especially to young children.

"Measles have come back to Germany," warned the institute, reporting that some 614 cases have been recorded so far, up from eight just three years earlier.

German law, since 2019, has required children to receive two doses of the MMR vaccine, which gives full immunity against measles, mumps, and rubella. Parents face fines of 2,500 euros ($2,630) for non-compliance.

A potentially lethal airborne infection, measles killed 107,000 people globally in 2023, with young children particularly vulnerable to its severe symptoms of high fever and rash, according to the World Health Organization.

Deutsche Welle, or DW, reported that the triple impact of pandemic disruptions, vaccine skepticism, and imported cases is also causing spikes in other preventable diseases, including Hepatitis B and whooping cough.

COVID-19 preventive measures, such as social distancing and mask-wearing, led to lower infectious disease rates during the pandemic, according to Bonn-based pediatrician Axel Gerschlauer, who observed that patients developed a "hesitancy to go to the doctor except in the most necessary cases, for fear of the risk of infection" at medical facilities.

Speaking to public broadcaster ARD, Cologne physician Karella Easwaran highlighted the impact of imported cases due to increased global mobility, saying: "Today, there are a lot of people traveling, a lot of people immigrating here. Many children from war zones."

Gerschlauer emphasized the importance of distinguishing between vaccine hesitancy and anti-vaccine activism.

A study published by Statista in November revealed a growing general vaccine skepticism among German adults, with rates climbing from 21 percent in 2022 to 25 percent this year.

However, research from Germany's Federal Center for Health Education showed only a modest increase in the number of people identified as fully "anti-vaccine", from 4 percent in 2004 to 6 percent in 2020, but their influence can appear magnified due to social media presence and COVID-19 protest activities, according to the agency.