India, Jan. 27 -- Britain and several other European nations have lost their official measles elimination status. The World Health Organization (WHO) announced the move on Monday, pointing to a dangerous rise in infections across the continent.

The change is a direct result of falling childhood vaccination rates. It marks a major setback in a decades-long public health fight.

A country loses its measles elimination status when the virus spreads locally for a year or more. The WHO uses strict data to make this call. The decision for the UK, Spain, Austria, and others was actually made in September 2024. It was based on full-year data from that period.

The WHO only announced it now after all involved countries agreed. Losing the status i...