Measles outbreak at Amsterdam school: 16 children test positive, 4 hospitalized
A measles outbreak at an elementary school in Nieuw-West has infected 16 children, with four requiring hospitalization, the GGD Amsterdam confirmed Thursday. All four hospitalized children have since been discharged, according to AT5.
The outbreak, first reported Wednesday, reportedly originated from a child who contracted the virus abroad. Though that child does not attend the affected school, they infected siblings who do, leading to rapid spread within the school community.
GGD-physician Charlie van der Weijden noted that an additional case has been confirmed, bringing Amsterdam’s total to 16. Nationally, nearly 110 measles cases have been recorded. The RIVM has not declared an outbreak or epidemic, but has acknowledged four clusters at primary schools in Rotterdam, The Hague and EIndhoven, in addition to the Amsterdam school.
Health officials have launched an extensive contact tracing investigation and anticipate additional infections in the coming days. The affected neighborhood has a historically low vaccination rate, a factor contributing to the outbreak’s rapid spread.
“This outbreak is strongly linked to low vaccination rates in the area. We’ve seen a downward trend for years,” said Van der Weijden. “The school in question also had a low vaccination rate, allowing the virus to spread quickly.”
Of the cases in the Netherlands, at least 17 people contracted the virus in Morocco this year, and at least three others became infected while in Romania. Both countries have been grappling with wide-spread measles epidemics for some time.
“Several tens of thousands of people in Morocco have been infected with measles, and more than 100 people have passed away as a result,” the RIVM stated on Wednesday. The two countries were both mentioned in previous alerts from the RIVM, which was also concerned about people gathering in areas of Austria and Germany for winter sport holidays.
Measles is a highly contagious viral infection that spreads through coughing, sneezing, and even talking. Symptoms typically begin with fever, cold-like symptoms, and red, irritated eyes before progressing to a rash that spreads from behind the ears across the body. The incubation period ranges from 7 to 18 days.
While most cases resolve on their own, measles can cause severe complications, particularly for babies, unvaccinated pregnant women, and individuals with weakened immune systems.
The GGD is urging parents to vaccinate their children and to contact their doctor if symptoms appear. “We strongly advocate for high vaccination rates to prevent outbreaks like this,” Van der Weijden emphasized. “If parents have concerns or religious objections, we encourage open conversations about the risks associated with measles.”
