Health authorities in Amsterdam are ramping up efforts to warn families traveling to Morocco for the May holiday amid a significant measles outbreak in the country, reported De Telegraaf on Wednesday. The number of measles cases in the city's Nieuw-West district has risen from 20 to 32 in the past week, with infections now spreading beyond the initial outbreak at a primary school. Amsterdam Alderman for Health, Alexander Scholtes, expressed deep concern over the growing number of cases, particularly as four children have been hospitalized. Investigations revealed that none of the infected children had been vaccinated against measles. The outbreak in Nieuw-West is believed to have originated after an older sibling contracted measles while abroad, highlighting the risk of international travel in spreading the disease. Given the ongoing outbreak in Morocco, the municipality has launched an awareness campaign urging families to vaccinate their children before traveling. Authorities have also extended this advice to travelers heading to Romania, another country experiencing a surge in measles cases. «With the city's vaccination rate, it was never a question of if there would be a measles outbreak, but when. That time has now come», Scholtes stated. In response to the rising cases, some local officials have proposed more proactive vaccination strategies, such as deploying mobile vaccination units in neighborhoods, similar to efforts in Rotterdam. Last week in Rotterdam, a measles outbreak at an Islamic primary school was reported after a student's visit to Morocco during the spring break. 50 students reported sick by early this week, prompting its closure. To combat the spread, a special vaccination drive was organized. This is not the first time recent measles cases in the Netherlands have been linked to Morocco. Earlier in March, the Dutch National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) reported that 17 measles infections have traced back to Morocco. Similar trends have also been observed in France, Spain, and Belgium.
