Two children in England have died from measles this year, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) confirmed on Thursday. One death was attributed to acute measles, the other to late effects of the disease. This marks the first time two children have died from measles in a single year in England and Wales since 2018.
UKHSA reported 106 new laboratory-confirmed cases in the past fortnight, bringing the total to 736 between 1 January and 8 June. Cases have been highest in London, the east of England and the West Midlands. Most cases are among unvaccinated children aged 10 and under.
Dr Vanessa Saliba, a consultant epidemiologist at UKHSA, urged parents to ensure children are up to date with MMR or MMRV vaccines, warning that measles can be serious and fatal. Health Secretary James Murray described the deaths as a heartbreaking reminder that measles is not a harmless childhood illness.
Vaccination rates remain concerning, with 91.8% of five-year-olds having received one MMR dose in 2024-25, the lowest since 2010-11. The World Health Organization declared in January that the UK had lost its measles elimination status due to stalled coverage and rising cases.
