Murcia investigates local measles outbreak as several cases are confirmed in Alcantarilla

Health authorities have launched contact tracing measures after three cases were confirmed, including an unvaccinated 11-month-old baby

The Regional Ministry of Health is investigating a measles outbreak in Alcantarilla after three cases were detected. Those affected are two adults and an 11-month-old baby who had not yet received the vaccine. The cases were contracted locally within the Region of Murcia. Public health officials have now begun contact tracing to identify anyone who may have been exposed to the virus.

Measles cases have been rising in recent years both in Spain and across the European Union. In the Region of Murcia, four cases were recorded in 2024 and another four in 2025, half of them locally transmitted and the rest imported. Across Spain, 227 cases were diagnosed in 2024 and 397 in 2025. So far this year, a further 106 cases have been confirmed nationwide, according to the latest report from the Instituto de Salud Carlos III.

In response to the situation, the World Health Organization has withdrawn Spain's status as a measles-free country. Vaccination remains the only effective way to control the virus, but very high coverage is needed to prevent its spread through the population.

For this reason, the Health Ministry is urging unvaccinated people to attend their local health centre to receive protection. Vaccination is recommended for those born after 1978 who have not had the disease or are unsure of their vaccination status, particularly if this is not documented, and especially for those travelling to countries with higher incidence rates.

People who develop a rash and a high fever are advised to attend healthcare services wearing a mask, so measles can be assessed as a possible diagnosis.

The Region of Murcia has recorded relatively few cases in 2024 and 2025 compared with other more affected regions such as the Basque Country, Catalonia, or Castilla-La Mancha. However, a major outbreak was recorded in Jumilla in 2010, with 95 cases. This originated from imported cases from Romania, where vaccination rates are significantly lower than in Spain.

Low vaccination coverage in Eastern European countries, along with high measles incidence in neighbouring Morocco and other parts of the world, explains the current rise in cases across Spain and the wider EU.

Measles is caused by a highly contagious virus, and vaccination is the only effective barrier against it. Coverage in the Region of Murcia stands at 96.8% for the first dose (given at 12 months) and 92.4% for the second dose (given at age four). While vaccination rates are high, measles shows that immunisation programmes only work fully when coverage is high globally. The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control sets an optimal vaccination threshold of 95%.

The most vulnerable groups are infants who have not yet received their first dose and immunocompromised individuals. For this reason, the Spanish Association of Paediatrics' Vaccination Committee recommends bringing forward the first dose for children aged 6 to 12 months who are travelling to countries with high levels of virus circulation.

Image: Archive