A new map has identified areas in the UK where measles is resurging, as health officials confirm an outbreak in London that has led to children being hospitalised. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) reported 96 laboratory-confirmed cases in England as of 2 February, with nearly two-thirds (61) in London.
The outbreak is concentrated in Enfield, north London, where 34 infections have been confirmed across at least seven schools. A local GP surgery warned of a 'fast-spreading outbreak', noting that one in five infected children have been hospitalised, all of whom were unvaccinated. The UK lost its measles elimination status from the World Health Organization earlier this year after transmission was re-established.
In 2024, England recorded 2,911 laboratory-confirmed cases, the highest since 2012. Outside London, Salford saw 42 cases in 2025, the most in Greater Manchester, while Birmingham reported 21 infections. Bristol and Hackney also had higher figures than Salford.
Vaccination rates have fallen to a decade low: only 83.7 per cent of five-year-olds in England have received both doses of the MMR vaccine, well below the WHO target of 95 per cent. In Enfield, just 64.3 per cent of children are fully protected. Dr Vanessa Saliba, Consultant Epidemiologist at UKHSA, urged parents to catch up on missed jabs, warning that measles can lead to severe complications and death, but is preventable with two vaccine doses.
Measles symptoms include high fever, cough, sneezing, red and watery eyes, and a rash. Parents are advised to ensure their children are vaccinated, especially before travelling abroad during the Easter holidays.
