Headlines - Measles Update as of April 24, 2014 (provisional data)

From January 1, 2008, to March 31, 2014, more than 23,300 cases of measles were reported in France (including nearly 15,000 cases reported in 2011 alone). Nearly 1,500 cases developed severe pneumonia, 34 had neurological complications (31 cases of encephalitis, 1 case of myelitis, and 2 cases of Guillain-Barré syndrome), and 10 died.The number of cases dropped sharply in 2012 and 2013 (859 and 272 reported cases, respectively); however, the virus remains active, particularly in southeastern France. During the first quarter of 2014, 106 cases were reported, half of which were in Ille-et-Vilaine, where active outbreaks were occurring (Figure 3). Verifying vaccination status and ensuring that everyone aged 12 months or older and born after 1980 is up to date with two doses of the vaccine therefore remains imperative.