Outbreaks began in 2023 and intensified throughout 2024, culminating in a record 2,911 laboratory-confirmed cases in England.
Measles cases are rising in areas of London (Image: Getty)
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A growing measles outbreak is spreading across North London, with 50 cases now confirmed in Enfield and 10 in Haringey. It follows the UK losing its measles elimination status earlier this year, after the disease re-established endemic transmission.
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The UK was first declared measles-free in 2017. It then lost its elimination status two years later, but regained it during the pandemic, largely due to social distancing.
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Recent measles outbreaks began in England in late 2023 and intensified in 2024, with the highest number of cases in more than a decade. Last year, just under 1,000 cases were confirmed by lab tests.
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The UKHSA has blamed the return of the disease on falling vaccine rates. WHO says 95% vaccine coverage is needed to achieve herd virus, yet around one in six children in England did not receive both doses of the MMR jab by their 5th birthday and in some areas, including Enfield and Birmingham, the vaccine rate is much lower.
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Measles spreads very easily and can lead to complications like ear and chest infections and inflammation of the brain. The best protection against measles is two doses of the MMRV vaccine, which includes immunisation from chickenpox and replaced the MMR jab this year.
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