ROMA (ITALPRESS) – In Italy, from 1 January to 31 December 2025, the national surveillance system integrated measles and rosolia were reported 529 measles cases of which 14.0% imported. This is what emerges from the issue of December 2025 of the periodic bulletin of the Istituto Superiore di Sanità “Morbillo & Rosolia News”, according to which 88% of the reports came for unvaccinated patients and in about a third of all reported cases at least one complication occurred. There are 20 Regions/Provinces Autonomous who reported cases in 2025, but more than half of cases (342/529; 64.7%) were reported by only five Regions (Lombardy, Emilia-Romagna, Lazio, Calabria and Sicily). The highest incidence was observed in Calabria (46.4/million inhabitants) followed by the Marches (15.5/million inhabitants), Lazio (13.3/million), Bolzano P.A. (13.0/million) and Sicily (12.8/million). At national level, the incidence in the period was 9,0 cases per million inhabitants. The average age of reported cases is 31 years (range: 0 – 80 years). 52.4% is between 15 and 39 years and an additional 24.2% is 40 years or more. However, the highest incidence was observed in the age group 0-4 years (41.4 cases per million). 26 cases were reported in children under the age of 69.8 cases per million.
The vaccination status is known for 502 of the 529 reported cases (94.9%), of which 440 cases (87.6%) were not vaccinated at the time of contagion, 42 cases (8.4%) were vaccinated with one dose, 17 cases (3.4%) were vaccinated with two doses. For the remaining three cases vaccinated (0.6%), the number of doses received is unknown. About a third of the cases (31.3%) reported at least one complication. The most frequently reported complications were pneumonia (11.7%) and hepatitis/increasing transaminers (11.5% of total cases). Other reported complications include cases of diarrhea, keratoconjunctivitis, respiratory insufficiency, stomatitis, thrombocytopenia, laryngotracheobronchite, otitis. Four cases of encephalitis were reported, respectively in three adults and in a preadolescent, all not vaccinated. For 56.3% of cases a hospital hospital for measles is reported, and for an additional 13.0% a visit to the ER. “The number of cases of measles in Italy in 2025 was 529 cases, about half of those reported in 2024. The virus continues to circulate in the country, especially among young adults not vaccinated; in 2025 the median age of cases was 31 years old – they remind the authors of the report -. Vaccination is the only effective tool to protect against measles and its complications. Two doses give a protection of about 97%. To prevent the spread of the virus and the outbreaks, it is necessary to reach a cover of at least 95% with two doses at all subnational levels. However, in Italy, the coverage for two doses in children aged 5-6 years is 84.8% (data 2023), and no Region has reached the coverage of 95% for the second dose. 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.”.
– photo IPA Agency –
(ITALPRESS).
