To investigate the measles virus (MeV) outbreak at a tertiary-care centre of northern India in 2023.

Probable and confirmed cases of measles presenting to from a tertiary hospital in Chandigarh, India, between January 01, 2023, and September 30, 2023, were defined using the WHO measles outbreak toolbox. Laboratory confirmation was based on positive IgM serology for measles. Laboratory-confirmed cases were subjected to genotyping by real-time polymerase chain reaction as per the Centre for Disease Control protocol.

Out of 38 laboratory-confirmed cases, 18 (47%) were infants; 10 out of 18 infants were aged < 9 months. 60% cases were unvaccinated for MeV. Genotyping in 3 out of 5 cases revealed the D8 genotype, MeV strain MVs/Thiruvananthapuram. IND/18.12 in circulation.

The 2023 outbreak underscores the critical impact of the immunization gap, need for sustained vaccination efforts and to consider early 2-dose schedule to prevent similar occurrences in the future.