Health · Public Health & Disease · 2 hrs ago
Italian infectious disease experts warn measles remains a serious risk
A child died of measles in New York, prompting a warning from Italy's Society for Infectious and Tropical Diseases.
The society's president, Cristina Mussini, said measles is not a disease of the past and can still lead to severe complications or death.
Measles spreads easily among people who are not immune, so even a relatively small number of infections can have serious consequences.
The society estimates that, on average, one person dies for every 1,000 measles cases.
Vaccinating children is a key way to prevent harm, experts said.
Because vaccination has made some infections rare, people may wrongly assume they have disappeared or that vaccination is no longer needed.
Lower vaccination rates could allow measles and other infections to spread again, so the society said prevention remains essential.
Italian infectious disease experts warned that measles remains a serious risk and is not a disease of the past.
Cristina Mussini, president of the Italian Society of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, said measles can cause severe consequences, including death.
The society said an estimated one death occurs for every 1,000 measles cases on average.
Mussini urged vaccination, especially for young children, as a key means of prevention and public health protection.
She warned that falling vaccination coverage could allow diseases considered rare to spread again.
- Who
- The Italian Society of Infectious and Tropical Diseases and its president, Cristina Mussini.
- What
- They warned that measles remains a serious risk and stressed the importance of vaccination.
- When
- ANSA published the warning on November 3, 2026.
- Where
- Italy; the warning was prompted by the death of a child from measles in New York.
- Why
- Measles is highly contagious and can cause severe complications or death, while declining vaccination coverage could enable its spread.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
A child died from measles in New York, prompting renewed attention to the disease.
ANSA reported Mussini's warning that measles remains a serious risk and vaccination is essential.
- Estimated fatality
- One death per 1,000 cases on average
- Disease
- Measles
- Location of reported death
- New York
- Warning date
- November 3, 2026
What people are saying
Measles is not a disease of the past and the risk of serious consequences, including death, is still real
It is estimated that, on average, one death can occur for every thousand cases
Protecting children means defending them from a disease that can cause important complications
Prevention remains the most effective weapon to stop diseases that we can control today from causing serious consequences and victims again