Measles outbreak in Limburg: 31 new cases and vaccination debate flared up!

Measles outbreak in Limburg: 31 new cases and vaccination debate flared up!

Runkst, Hasselt, Belgien - The discussion about measles infections in Belgium is currently shaped by alarming numbers. In May 2025, 31 new measles cases were registered in Limburg, which increases the worries about the vaccination rates in the region. These outbursts affect larger families in which children are not vaccinated. The elementary school de Puzzel in Runkst (Hasselt) was particularly affected, where five children from a family were infected. Despite the high general vaccination rate at the school, the institution is not held responsible for the infections. A positive signal, however, is that the five children affected are now completely recovered.

To prevent further outbursts, preventive measures were required. According to reports from VRT, further spread could be prevented thanks to the long weekend in early May. The situation illustrates the importance of vaccination prevention and the need to deal with vaccination rates. Vaccinema rates play a crucial role in combating infectious diseases because they are directly linked to herdown.

vaccination rates and public health

In order to get a better understanding of the vaccination rate in Germany, the Robert Koch Institute offers the Dashboard VacMap. This system provides publicly accessible results of the KV vaccination survillance and is aimed at players in vaccination prevention. VACMAP enables a clear presentation of the use of routine vaccinations recommended by the Standing Vaccination Commission (STIKO). This enables comprehensive evaluation of the implementation of vaccination recommendations.

VACMAP has proven to be a useful tool to identify imports in different regions, age groups and indication groups. The data obtained from this can be used to plan targeted measures to increase the vaccination rates. An explanatory film is also available and explains the use of the dashboard to promote acceptance and application. This can be crucial to reduce the increase in avoidable diseases, as in the case of measles.

The interaction between vaccination prevention and the infection rates is undeniable. The current developments in Belgium make it clear that a concerted use for higher vaccination rates is necessary to protect younger generations and to avoid outbreaks such as those in Limburg. The developments are still being observed closely in order to be able to react early.

For detailed information on the location of the measles cases in Belgium see VRT , and for more about the vaccination quotas in Germany Robert Koch-Institut .