Measles outbreak rises to 21 confirmed cases and spreads to Tenerife and Gran Canaria
The Canary Islands Health Service (SCS) has confirmed that the measles outbreak first detected in La Palma on 20th October has now grown to 21 confirmed cases, after seven new infections were reported this week.
According to the Directorate General of Public Health, the new cases include five adults in La Palma and two in Gran Canaria. All those affected so far are reported to be experiencing mild symptoms and are recovering without complications.
The latest update comes after weeks of contact tracing and follow-up checks that began when the first three measles cases were detected in La Palma. These involved the original patient, a healthcare worker, and an unvaccinated child who had been in close contact in an enclosed space. A later investigation confirmed that a case in Tenerife was linked to the same outbreak, connecting it back to the first patient in La Palma.
As soon as the first suspected infections were reported, health authorities activated strict protocols to diagnose, monitor, and contain the virus. Health teams in La Palma, Tenerife, and Gran Canaria continue to work together to trace anyone who may have been exposed and to stop the disease from spreading further.
Officials say that follow-up checks are still being carried out on people who may have come into contact with confirmed cases.
Last year, there were seven measles cases across the Canary Islands, five of which were imported or linked to travellers, and two of unknown origin. Before this outbreak, only two isolated cases had been recorded in 2025, along with two mild vaccine-related cases that caused no complications.
Health authorities are reminding everyone of the importance of getting both doses of the measles vaccine, which offers strong protection and helps stop the virus from reaching those who cannot be vaccinated for medical reasons.
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