Measles Outbreak in Morocco Prompts France to Issue Travel Advisory and Vaccination Warning

Faced with the resurgence of imported measles cases in France from Morocco since January 1, 2025, Public Health France recommends that those planning to travel to Morocco get vaccinated before their departure. The French health authorities also call on healthcare professionals to be vigilant when caring for patients returning from a stay in Morocco.

Morocco has been facing a measles epidemic since September 2023. Nearly 25,000 suspected cases, including 6,300 confirmed cases and 120 deaths, have already been recorded. A health situation that worries the French authorities due to the influx of French tourists to the kingdom during school holidays. The Moroccan authorities had organized a national vaccination campaign for children under 18 from October 28, 2024 to January 27, 2025 to limit the spread of the virus.

Of the 39 cases reported in France in 2024 and 2025, 26 were hospitalized, including 11 in January 2025. Public Health France reminds that vaccination is mandatory for people born since 1980 and those aged at least 12 months, or for people traveling to high-endemic countries like Morocco, stressing that the vaccine is effective in more than 95% of cases after two doses. Infants aged six months are also concerned.