Measles outbreak: how measles prevention is carried out in Russia
While the incidence of measles has increased in Europe due to low vaccination rates, the epidemic situation in Russia has undergone a cyclical upswing and stabilized. However, it follows from the data of Rospotrebnadzor, an outbreak of infection will be observed over the next few years. Details can be found in the Izvestia article.
Measles arrived
The World Health Organization reported that the number of measles cases has increased in Europe and Central Asia, reaching 53 countries — twice as high as between 2023 and 2024. So, in 17 American states, from January 1 to March 20, 2025, 378 cases were registered, including two deaths.
According to the WHO, measles affected mainly children who either have not been vaccinated or have an unknown status. This is due to the fact that vaccination rates have not returned to the level before the pandemic, as it failed to reach the entire population to form collective immunity.
A large number of measles cases in Russia were observed during 2023-2024, as a "cohort of susceptible individuals" accumulated during the COVID-19 pandemic, Rospotrebnadzor said in its official Telegram channel. They stressed that if the peak of the cyclical rise was noted in March 2024, then by April a decrease in morbidity was registered.
Infectious disease specialist Anna Balandina told Izvestia that during that period, the number of measles cases exceeded the annual average calculated since 2012 by 11 times, a record for the last 30 years.
— In 2024, 22.4 thousand were registered. measles cases, 67% of which occurred in children under the age of 18, with the majority of cases being children under one year old. Four deaths have been reported among unvaccinated children. The largest number of measles cases has been registered in Moscow and the Republic of Dagestan," Balandina said, referring to the Rospotrebnadzor report.
To date, the epidemic situation has stabilized, primarily due to anti-epidemic and preventive measures, including immunization of the population. Rospotrebnadzor provided the following data: the measles vaccination plan has been completed by 74.3% over the past six months and by 50.4% for revaccination.
"Thanks to prompt immunization for epidemic indications, more than 90% of measles outbreaks are not widespread. In 2025, cleansing immunization against measles of the country's population and migrant workers who had not been vaccinated before and were not ill continued in the regions. The plan for the current period has been fulfilled by 72%, about 560 thousand people have been vaccinated," the Rospotrebnadzor report says.
Meanwhile, vigilance should not be weakened, since the increase in morbidity is a complex process, experts say. According to Anna Balandina, the decrease in measles vaccination coverage against the background of imported infections from Central Asian countries has led to the fact that there are enough people in Russia who are susceptible to infection to form outbreaks of the disease, although not on a huge scale. Balandina noted that not only the previous years of the pandemic, but also the growing anti-vaccination movement around the world, probably played a role in reducing vaccination coverage.
A cohort of the susceptible
The first symptoms of measles, as a rule, differ little from other respiratory viral infections: malaise, weakness, aches, fever, nasal congestion, cough, says Anna Balandina. Conjunctivitis is often associated with dryness and burning in the eyes, redness of the conjunctiva, photophobia, and lacrimation.
During the same period, rash elements may appear on the mucous membrane of the oral cavity — Filatov-Belsky-Koplik spots, most often they are localized on the mucous membrane of the inner surface of the cheeks. The skin rash appears on average two to four days after the onset of fever.
— Antiviral drugs for the treatment of measles do not exist today, therefore, treatment consists of maintaining the body's strength: rest, plenty of warm drink, easily digestible food — and relieving the patient's condition with antipyretics, anti-inflammatory drugs, as well as preventing complications, within the framework of which antibiotic prophylaxis of secondary bacterial infections is being considered for some patients, — explained Balandina.
To prevent the widespread spread of measles, the immune stratum among the Russian population should be at least 85%. As follows from the data of Rospotrebnadzor, last year this figure averaged 96% in the country.
According to the expert, the most vulnerable group of the population are children under one year old, as measles vaccination is only possible at the age of over eight months. The child's own immune system in the first year of life is not yet mature enough to effectively resist infection, which leads to a high risk of severe disease and secondary infections.
Among adults, people with HIV—infected immunodeficiency are the most susceptible to the disease. Anna Balandina noted that among them are those who do not take ART therapy or have a low immune status. The same applies to people after transplantation or with autoimmune diseases who have been prescribed immunosuppressants for life.
There are also social groups at risk, such as people who, by their occupation, come into contact with a large number of people in confined spaces, including medical workers and public transport workers.
Fighting the children's enemy
Alexey Kasatkin, a paramedic from the linear field brigade of the SS and NMP named after A.S. Puchkov and the author of the "Just Ask" channel, told Izvestia what parents should do if a measles case was suddenly registered within reach.
Measles can cause severe complications for an unvaccinated child, the paramedic emphasized, and often requires prolonged hospitalization, creating enormous stress for both the patient and the family. According to him, the most common and dangerous complications are pneumonia, especially for toddlers and debilitated children, and encephalitis, which can lead to permanent damage, as well as possible hearing or vision loss.
— There is measles in kindergarten — do not panic, but act clearly. First of all, check the child's vaccination status. If he is vaccinated, breathe evenly, most likely there is protection. If you are not vaccinated, you have a critical window of 72 hours for urgent vaccination to ensure body protection. Even if someone in the group is sick, this does not guarantee that your child will be infected, but vigilance is imperative - isolate the child from contact with the sick and monitor the condition," Kasatkin explained the procedure.
He also added that if the child is already seven years old and the parents are not sure if they have been vaccinated, they should contact the clinic to check their medical records.
— Haven't you been vaccinated? Do it urgently — measles does not tolerate delay," the paramedic warned.
Kasatkin warned that if a child has a very high fever, severe lethargy, refusal to eat and drink, as well as seizures or uncontrollable vomiting, it is necessary to urgently consult a doctor. This also applies in cases where the rash is intense or the condition worsens dramatically, and the child complains of severe pain or fear.
A calendar of vital importance
Until about 1985, measles vaccination was carried out once, but later it was shown that two doses of the vaccine were necessary to form a stable lifelong immunity, Anna Balandina shared with Izvestia.
Today, measles is included in the National Vaccination Calendar, an official document on vaccination of the population, according to which vaccinations are carried out from infancy. Other infections requiring preventive vaccination include tuberculosis, hepatitis B, diphtheria, tetanus, pneumococcal infection, whooping cough, polio, rubella, mumps, hemophilic infection and influenza. Russians are vaccinated for free — vaccination is available under the compulsory health insurance program.
Rospotrebnadzor, together with Antonina Ploskireva, Deputy Director for Clinical Work at the Central Research Institute of Epidemiology of Rospotrebnadzor, told how it goes in Russia.
"Vaccination begins from infancy, the pediatrician at the polyclinic will tell you when to vaccinate the child, and will get a certificate of vaccinations, where there will be marks about immunization. If for some reason you missed a scheduled vaccination, you should consult with your doctor about when you can get vaccinated," follows from the official Telegram channel of the department.
Anna Balandina added that if a person has information about only a single vaccination, they need to be vaccinated again with another dose of the vaccine at any age.
— According to existing regulatory documents, if an adult does not have confirmed data on measles or measles vaccination, he is vaccinated with a full course, as previously unvaccinated. The vaccine is administered twice, with an interval of three months," Balandina said.
According to her, twice administration of the vaccine is considered sufficient, therefore, revaccination is not required for adults. Meanwhile, if there has been contact with measles and the person has no data on previous vaccination, measles, or only one vaccination, then an emergency vaccination is carried out to prevent infection.
Переведено сервисом «Яндекс Переводчик»
