Latvia records first measles outbreak since 2018

RIGA - Latvia has recorded its first measles outbreak since 2018, Ilze Udre, a spokesperson for the Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC), told LETA.

She pointed out that the CDC is carrying out an epidemiological investigation of the outbreak and organizing infection control measures.

Five measles cases have been reported up to March 17, including three laboratory-confirmed cases, two among schoolchildren and one adult, as well as two suspected cases among schoolchildren, the results of the laboratory tests of which are pending. All reported cases are epidemiologically linked.

According to Udre, the number of identified contacts is very high - at least 800 persons. These include both contacts identified in educational establishments and contacts identified outside educational establishments, for example in the families of patients, at public events, on international transports and elsewhere.

The risk of further spread of infection, especially among the unvaccinated people, is also considered to be high. Moreover, it is not possible to identify all contacts, especially casual contacts in public places.

Recommendations have been provided to contacts, including guidance on what to do in case of illness, including self-isolation. Information necessary for medical follow-up of contacts is shared with family physicians. This includes monitoring of symptoms, laboratory tests if necessary, and assessment of vaccination status.

The CDC has also sent methodological material to medical practitioners and hospitals to raise awareness on measles diagnosis, surveillance and prevention, as the effectiveness of infection control measures depends on how quickly measles cases are detected, reported to the CDC and the necessary measures initiated.

Udre also pointed out that, unlike several other EU countries, the situation in Latvia has been favorable in recent years.

In particular, in 2025, one imported case of measles was confirmed, and the case was contracted abroad. Also in 2023, one imported case of measles has been confirmed.

From 2020 to 2022, no measles cases have been reported in Latvia, while in 2019, three cases have been reported.

The last measles outbreaks in Latvia were recorded in 2018, when 25 cases were reported, and in 2014, when 36 cases were reported.

Udre stressed that measles is a vaccine-preventable infection and vaccination is the only effective way to protect against the disease and prevent measles outbreaks.

Although every child in Latvia is entitled to a state-paid measles vaccination, the CDC analysis of vaccination data shows that about 14,000 or 4 percent of children aged between one and 17 years have not received any measles vaccination.

Measles is a highly infectious viral disease that is mainly spread through the air by tiny respiratory droplets that can remain in indoor air. Infection is therefore possible not only through direct contact with the person affected, but also by staying indoors where the person with measles has been within the last two hours.

As reported, CDC received notification of one laboratory-confirmed case of measles on Saturday, March 14.

The CDC admitted that the infection could have occurred on February 21 and February 22 at the Lutaurus Quiz event in Riga. The epidemiological investigation also showed that the measles case had been on flight TK1758 from Riga to Turkey on March 5. The CDC has informed the Turkish authorities about the case in order to identify the passengers potentially exposed to the infection.