Antwerp (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Measles cases in Flanders rose sharply to 47 in April 2025, mostly in Antwerp. Virologist Marc Van Ranst urges vaccination, as 47 of 60 Antwerp cases were unvaccinated.
As reported by HLN and VRT News, the measles cases in Flanders are going up fast. In April 2025, there were 47 cases, much higher than the 14 cases in April 2024. This is the most cases in a month since March 2011. This year, 95 people have gotten measles, which is close to the total of 123 cases in all of 2024, a record year.
Most of the cases, 60 out of the 95, are in Antwerp, particularly in the city. Many of the people who got sick are children under 9 who didn’t get their measles shots. The health department says that 47 of the 60 people in Antwerp who got measles were not vaccinated, which shows that not getting vaccinated is a serious public health risk.
Why are measles cases rising in Antwerp?
The measles outbreak is presenting issues for children and hospitals. Half of the individuals who became ill required hospitalisation, and some required intensive care. Measles can lead to serious issues such as pneumonia, swelling of the brain, and permanent brain damage, particularly among individuals who are not immunised.
Health officials are asking parents to make sure their kids get all their shots. They worry that more outbreaks could happen if not enough people are vaccinated. The health authorities are watching the situation in Antwerp closely and will try to get more people vaccinated to stop the spread.
Health experts and hospitals in Belgium, especially in Antwerp, are worried because more people are getting measles. They say we need to act fast to stop it from spreading more. Hospitals in Antwerp are concerned, and doctors like virologist Marc Van Ranst are also warning people. They say we need to find measles cases and remind people how important it is to get vaccinated.
They mentioned that the problem is worse in big cities because there are a lot of people living close together, people move around a lot, and not everyone is vaccinated. Measles spreads very easily, and if not enough people are vaccinated, even one case can cause a big health problem.
Cities have lower vaccination rates because they have many different people living there, and some groups are harder to reach. People who have moved from other countries are often not reached by the usual health programs. This is because of cultural differences, not trusting doctors, language problems, and not enough information.
According to officials, to fix this, health they need to talk to people in ways they understand, give information in different languages, and work with people the community trusts. They can also set up mobile clinics and places where people can get vaccinated easily. It takes time and money, but it’s important to get everyone vaccinated and stop future outbreaks.
