Measles
Version: November 2025
Introduction
Measles is a highly contagious viral disease caused by the measles virus, a member of the paramyxovirus family. It primarily affects children but can occur in individuals of any age who are not immunized. The disease is characterized by symptoms such as high fever, cough, runny nose, inflamed eyes, and a distinct red rash that usually spreads over the body. Measles spreads through respiratory droplets and can lead to severe complications, including pneumonia, encephalitis, and death. While vaccination has significantly reduced incidence globally, outbreaks still occur, primarily in areas with low vaccination coverage.
Highlights
- Significant reduction in measles cases has been observed from the 2015-2016 outbreak period, characterized by thousands of cases monthly, to under 100 cases per month in most of 2020-2023.
- Since the early 2020s, reported cases and mortality associated with measles have dropped to negligible levels, with no deaths reported since December 2017.
- A moderate resurgence in cases occurred from late 2024 to early 2025, though numbers remained significantly below the peak levels of 2016.
- The ongoing efforts in vaccination and monitoring appear effective, with continued decreases in incidence throughout 2025, and sustained absence of fatalities.
Analysis
Cases Analysis
The data from November 2015 to November 2025 reflects significant progress in controlling measles in mainland China. Initially, late 2015 to mid-2016 saw a surge in cases, peaking at 5,488 in April 2016. This surge suggests the potential impact of vaccination gaps or outbreaks in susceptible populations. However, following this peak, there was a substantial decline in cases, with numbers dropping below 500 by the end of 2016, indicating effective public health interventions.
From 2017 onwards, reported measles cases continued to decrease, demonstrating improved control and vaccination efforts. By 2020, the number of cases dropped significantly, consistently remaining under 100 per month and maintaining zero deaths, indicative of successful suppression strategies. This decline may have been accentuated by the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to enhanced public health measures that indirectly reduced measles transmission.
The sustained low case numbers from 2022 through 2025 highlight China’s progress towards measles elimination, with only minor fluctuations suggesting isolated outbreaks. By 2025, case numbers showed a slight upward trend but remained manageable, reflecting ongoing efforts to maintain high vaccination coverage and robust disease monitoring. Overall, the data signifies China’s substantial advancements in measles control, marking the effectiveness of its public health strategies over the past decade.
Deaths Analysis
The analysis of measles-related deaths in mainland China from late 2015 to November 2025 reflects a notable trend of reduced fatalities despite fluctuations in the number of reported cases. In the initial months of observation, such as November and December 2015 and extending into 2016, there was a low but steady number of deaths even as cases increased, peaking in March and April of 2016. The subsequent months show a gradual decrease in both cases and deaths, with zero deaths recorded consistently from July 2016 until November 2025, despite varying case numbers.
The absence of mortality from July 2016 onwards may suggest successful intervention strategies and public health initiatives, such as vaccination programs or improved healthcare access, effectively mitigating the severity of measles cases or preventing their progression to fatal outcomes. This pattern of zero deaths persists even as the number of measles cases fluctuates, with occasional spikes seen in months such as March 2025, indicating that while infections continue, their impact has been dramatically minimized regarding mortality. The data underscores the critical role of public health infrastructure in controlling infectious diseases, especially through sustained immunization efforts that appear to have effectively curtailed mortality despite the ongoing presence of the disease.