Measles cases in Bavaria drop significantly amid global rise

Bavaria is experiencing a significant drop in measles cases, with only six infections reported since the start of the year. This marks a substantial decrease from the 40 cases recorded during the same period in the previous year. Health Minister Judith Gerlach highlighted this positive trend, attributing it to consistent vaccination awareness campaigns. She contrasted Bavaria's success with a worrying resurgence of measles in other parts of the world, particularly the United States, where over 2,300 cases have been confirmed this year.

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Since the beginning of the year, only six people have fallen ill with measles in Bavaria.

Gerlach emphasized that measles is a serious and highly contagious disease that can lead to severe complications, including death. She stressed that vaccinations are highly effective in preventing both infection and transmission. While vaccination rates for children in Bavaria are encouraging, with approximately 93 percent receiving their first dose by age two, the rate for the second dose stands at about 78 percent. Gerlach called this second-dose rate insufficient and urged parents to ensure their children receive full immunization.

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This is a gratifyingly low infection rate. In the same period last year, 40 infections were registered in the Free State.

Despite the lower rates in young children, vaccination coverage is nearly complete by the time children enter school. For the 2024/25 school year cohort, 99.6 percent had received their first vaccination and 97.2 percent their second by the time of their school entrance examination. These figures show a continuous increase since 2018. Mandatory vaccination for children attending daycare or school, and for certain healthcare workers born after 1971, has been in place in Bavaria since 2020.

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These good numbers are not a matter of course, but the result of our consistent vaccination education.