Measles Epidemiological Bulletin. Surveillance Data for 2022.

Published on 16 June 2023

Key Points

Among suspected measles cases occurring between January 1 and December 31, 2022, 15 confirmed measles cases, including 5 imported cases, were reported throughout France (compared to 16, 240, and 2,636 cases in 2021, 2020, and 2019, respectively).
Only 6 departments reported at least one case. No cases were reported in the overseas territories.
The reporting rate was 0.01 cases per 100,000 inhabitants (excluding imported cases). The highest rate observed was still among children under 1 year of age: 0.44 cases per 100,000.
Two cases developed pneumonia. Five were hospitalized. No deaths were reported.
Among the 6 locally acquired cases eligible for vaccination (aged ≥ 1 year and born since 1980), only one case, aged 3 years, had received 2 doses of the vaccine; the other cases were unvaccinated (n=3) or their vaccination status was unknown (n=2).
Among the 5 imported cases, all had returned from a trip to the African continent.
Like most European countries, France has recorded a significant decrease in the number of reported measles cases since April 2020 in connection with the COVID-19 pandemic, followed by virtually no viral circulation in 2021, which continued throughout 2022. The absence of a resurgence in active measles virus circulation, unlike other winter respiratory viruses, is most likely linked to the increased level of immunity in the population, which appears to be approaching herd immunity. This very high level of immunity can be explained, on the one hand, by the observed improvement in two-dose MMR vaccination coverage among infants born since 2018 who are subject to mandatory vaccination, and, on the other hand, by immunity acquired during recent outbreaks.
To continue pursuing the goal of eliminating the measles virus, ongoing epidemiological surveillance, investigations of clustered cases, and catch-up vaccination efforts—particularly among young adults and certain underserved populations with insufficient vaccination coverage—remain essential to limit the risk of outbreaks.