A measles outbreak in an anti-vaccine family has put a hundred people on alert in Garraf.

BarcelonaAt least eight confirmed cases and around 100 people under investigation due to an active measles outbreak in Garraf. According to ARA, the outbreak originated within an anti-vaccine family in Sant Pere de Ribes, where most of the cases and contacts are concentrated. The Department of Health has detected a source of infection with a "high number of exposures" and has so far identified more than 300 contacts from different settings, such as healthcare centers, leisure venues, and universities. Given the number of cases, most of whom were not vaccinated, and the "high mobility and social interaction," health authorities warn that the risk of spread in the ground zero of the outbreak is high, despite the good vaccination coverage in Catalonia. The cases are in boom throughout Europe And in our country this year, 71 infections have already been detected, that is, double the number compared to last year, when 34 were identified.

"There are quite a few cases, most of whom were not vaccinated. At the moment, we do not have the situation completely under control," admit Public Health sources at the ARA (Argentine National Health Association). The first positive case of this outbreak was detected in Garraf at the beginning of September, and the latest cases were identified at the beginning of October. Therefore, the Health Department considers the outbreak to be still active and does not rule out the possibility that more people with symptoms compatible with the disease may appear. Most of the cases in this outbreak are adolescents and young people and are not vaccinated, as is the case with more than half of the infections detected in Catalonia in 2025. So far, Public Health professionals have identified and assessed a total of 315 close contacts of the cases, have reviewed the vaccination cards of all of them, and are keeping them under study. In addition, they performed urgent diagnostic tests and administered treatment when necessary.

Although vaccination coverage in Catalonia is very high, there are certain groups that are not immunized and when one of these people becomes infected, cases increase exponentially. The ARA has already announced that Salut is analyzing which are the most vulnerable groups The government has also stressed the need to identify and vaccinate people who have not received the vaccine or who have only received one dose. It's worth remembering that, from an epidemiological perspective, each case of measles has hundreds of contacts, and of these, approximately 5% are unvaccinated. Therefore, during major outbreaks, contact tracing is very complicated.

Increase in infections

Catalonia is not an isolated case, as the whole of Europe has experienced a crisis in recent years.escalation of measles infectionsBetween 2023 and 2024, Member States detected some 20,000 cases of this highly contagious viral disease, which affects the respiratory system but is easily preventable with vaccination. Both the pandemic, which halted immunization against this disease, and the rise of some denialist movements are believed to be behind the increase in infections worldwide, including in African countries. Experts agree that it is necessary to strengthen infection detection and intensify vaccination in groups susceptible to illness.