This page shows an overview of the latest surveillance data on measles reported by EU and EEA countries. A total of 29 countries are reporting measles surveillance data to The European Surveillance System (TESSy). Liechtenstein did not report measles surveillance data in 2011.

Table 1. Number of measles cases by month. Cases have been reported to The European Surveillance System (TESSy) by EU and EEA countries, 2011. 

 nr = not reported

Figure 1. Distribution of measles cases in 2011 and 2010 and proportion of countries reporting measles surveillance data in 2011, by month.

Table 2. Total number of measles cases by month, 2010 and 2011, and number of countries reporting to TESSy by month in 2011.

Month	2010	2011	Number of Reporting Countries
January	2 673	2 315	29
February	3 079	3 356	29
March	6 582	5 509	29
April	5 902	5 835	29
May	4 568	5 309	29
June	2 836	2 965	29
July	1 064	1 695	29
August	529	925	29
September	335	688	29
October	459	548	29
November	844	727	29
December	13 93	695	29
Total	30 264	30 567	29

The number of cases are displayed according to month of statistics, which contains a date chosen by the country for reporting purposes. This date may indicate the onset of disease, the date of diagnosis, the date of notification, or the date of laboratory confirmation.

Countries report on measles and other vaccine-preventable diseases to TESSy at their own convenience. This implies that the date of retrieval can influence the presentation of data. Inconsistencies with measles data reported previously might arise as countries may update their data in TESSy retrospectively.

Comparisons between countries should be made with caution because of dissimilar surveillance sensitivities, completeness of reporting and different reporting procedures. Moreover, under-notification is a well recognised limitation of nationwide mandatory notification systems.

Last date of data retrieval: 26 January 2012
Last update of this page: 21 February 2011