United Kingdom: Rapid Spread of Measles
A rapidly spreading measles outbreak is affecting several schools in London, with dozens of children infected, British health authorities reported on Sunday.
During January, 34 cases of measles were confirmed in the northern part of the capital, according to the UK Health Security Agency.
These 34 cases represent over a third of the 96 confirmed infections in England during the first month of the year, based on the agency’s latest data. The agency noted that this outbreak primarily involves unvaccinated children under the age of 10 who are either in school or attending daycare.
Health authorities have urged families to check that their children’s vaccinations against this highly contagious disease are up to date, as it can lead to serious complications.
The increase in measles cases in the UK is partly attributed to insufficient vaccination coverage.
According to figures from 2024-2025, 84.4% of children received two doses of the MMR vaccine by the age of five, compared to a recommended rate of 95%. This coverage was recorded at 84.5% in 2023-2024, down from a peak of 88.8% in 2014-2015.
In January, the World Health Organization announced that the UK had lost its status as a country that had eliminated measles, following the outbreaks recorded in 2024.
