Measles cases surge in Italy: nearly 500 infections in the first few months of 2026. A boom in Calabria.

Measles infections are rising again in the country. In the first five months of 2026, the Ministry of Health recorded 472 confirmed cases, marking an increase from 322 in 2025, but still below the 2024 threshold (when 509 infections were recorded in the same period). This is according to a circular from the Department of Prevention, which highlights the continued active circulation of the virus.

The geography of the contagion and the Calabria case

While the curve is rising moderately at the national level, local levels are experiencing significant spikes. The most critical situation is in Calabria, which has gone from 17 cases last year to 265 reported in 2026. Significant increases have also been seen in Lazio (54 cases) and Tuscany (49 cases compared to just 6 in 2025).

Adults are mostly affected

One surprising fact for experts is the average age of those infected, which stands at 30. The age group with the highest number of infections is between 15 and 39 (345 cases), followed by adults aged 40-64 (124 cases) and children aged 0-4 (98 cases). However, the highest proportional incidence per million inhabitants remains concentrated among children under 4.

Rising hospitalizations and the shadow of anti-vaxxers

As cases rise, the burden on hospitals also grows: the percentage of hospitalizations rose to 57,8% in 2026 (from 49,5% in 2024). Behind these numbers, the key remains vaccination coverage: among patients with a known history, 93,3% are completely unvaccinated, confirming the protective efficacy of the serum and the vulnerability of those who choose not to be immunized.