Young adult in the Netherlands dies from measles, health institute confirms

An adult in the Netherlands died this week as a result of a measles infection, Dutch public health institute RIVM announced on Thursday. It was the first person in the country to die from the disease in over two years, and the last time an adult died from the viral infection was many years before that. The death was reported amid long-running concerns about declining vaccination rates.

The person who died this week suffered from a serious immune disorder, the institute said. An investigation into the source of the patient’s infection has not determined where or how the person contracted the virus. Information regarding their age, gender and hometown was not disclosed, though the RIVM did confirm to broadcaster NOS that the individual was a young adult.

“The patient was admitted to the hospital with measles two weeks ago,” the RIVM said. “The effect of a previous vaccination can be greatly reduced in people with a serious immune disorder, such as a congenital immune disorder or a medical treatment that severely suppresses the immune system.

A child died from the viral infection at the RadboudUMC hospital in Nijmegen in March 2023, which was the first measles-related death in the Netherlands since 2019. During the last major outbreak in the Netherlands in 2013 and 2014, one 17-year-old girl died from the virus, and over 180 were hospitalised.

Another individual died years later from subacute sclerosing panencephalitis. “This is a form of encephalitis caused by measles that only occurs several years after infection,” the RIVM said.

So far this year, a total of 437 confirmed measles cases have been diagnosed in the Netherlands. That was more than double the total of 204 reported all of last year. Roughly 2,800 cases were diagnosed during the last major outbreak, and around 3,300 were reported during the 1999-2000 outbreak.

“This tragic event emphasises the importance of a high vaccination rate,” the RIVM said. It is the only way to offer protection from the virus to children who are not yet at vaccination age, and those with an immune deficiency. “It also shows that measles is not just a childhood disease; it can also have major consequences for vulnerable adults.”

Doctors in the Netherlands have repeatedly raised concerns about faltering child vaccination rates, particularly since the coronavirus pandemic. Data related to the mumps, measles and rubella combination vaccine show that two different municipalities have rates below 60 percent, five more below 70 percent, and nine others below 80 percent.

Amsterdam’s vaccination rate is 83.2 percent, similar to The Hague, and slightly better than Rotterdam. “Over the past 10 years, the vaccination rate has clearly decreased, which means that the disease can now spread more easily again. Especially among people who are not vaccinated and have not had measles before,” the RIVM said.

Aside from forms of encephalitis, measles can cause pneumonia, which can also be life-threatening. The infection often emerges with signs of fever, runny nose, dry cough and fatigue. Eyes can then become red and inflamed, as white spots form inside the mouth. A red, blotchy rash can then develop on the face and spread out to other parts of the body.

The MMR vaccine is given in two doses, according to the national vaccination schedule. The first takes place when a child is 14 months old, while the second happens at 3 years of age. Prior to 2025, the second jab was generally given after a child turned 9 years old.