Measles Outbreak on La Palma Spreads to Tenerife: Eight Cases Confirmed
A measles outbreak on La Palma has spread to eight people, including three on Tenerife, prompting health officials to track and control the spread, while emphasizing the importance of vaccination.
The Canary Islands Health Service has reported that the measles outbreak on La Palma has now affected eight people, up from the initial three cases reported last Monday.
The five new cases include two children on La Palma and three people on Tenerife. One of the Tenerife cases was reported a few weeks ago, and further investigation has confirmed it's linked to the original case on La Palma.
So far, everyone affected is experiencing mild symptoms and recovering well, according to the Ministry of Health.
The first three cases reported on Monday included the initial case (who was old enough to be vaccinated but wasn't), a healthcare worker, and a child too young to be vaccinated who was in the same enclosed space as the healthcare worker.
The Public Health Department says that as soon as they suspected these cases, they immediately started working with health officials in La Palma to track, monitor, and control the spread of the disease.
They are still carefully monitoring people who have been in contact with those confirmed to have measles.
In 2024, there were seven measles cases in the Canary Islands. Five were brought in from outside the islands or linked to cases from abroad, and two were from unknown sources.
In 2025, there were two cases: one imported and one of unknown origin.
Additionally, there have been two cases of mild measles caused by a side effect of the vaccine. Both children experienced mild symptoms without complications.
The Public Health Department stresses the importance of getting both doses of the measles vaccine to protect yourself and prevent the disease from spreading to those who can't be vaccinated.