An old-fashioned illness that had been eradicated in the UK has reappeared in 50 council areas, with a new map highlighting regions with low vaccination rates where it is spreading rapidly.
Lab tests have identified measles infections in all parts of England, according to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), particularly affecting children under 10 years old.
Enfield in London seems to be the focal point of the current outbreak, with 80 confirmed cases of measles reported this year, including 35 new cases since February.
Enfield stands out with one of the lowest vaccination rates nationwide, leaving about one-third of children without protection from the MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccine. Data indicates that only 64.3% of children in Enfield had received both required MMR doses by their fifth birthday for complete immunity.
The targeted vaccination coverage rate is 95%. Although the UKHSA has confirmed measles infections in 50 different council areas, case numbers are only disclosed for areas with at least 10 confirmed cases.
Currently, three council areas have met this threshold, all showing low vaccine coverage rates. Besides Enfield, Birmingham has reported 43 cases, including 19 since February, and Haringey, a London borough neighboring Enfield, has recorded 15 cases.
In Birmingham, 75.5% of five-year-olds have received both MMR doses, while in Haringey, only 65.0% of children under five are fully immunized. The World Health Organization (WHO) withdrew the UK’s measles elimination status in January due to continuous disease circulation over a year.
The UK initially achieved measles-free status in 2017, lost it in 2019, and regained it in 2021, mainly due to pandemic-related social distancing. However, outbreaks emerged in 2023 and escalated in 2024, with 2,911 lab-confirmed measles cases in England that year, the highest since 2012.
According to WHO and the UKHSA, the virus has resumed endemic transmission, resulting in the UK losing its measles elimination status. While recent data shows a decline from the 2024 peak, measles cases remain substantial, with 235 cases reported as of March 9 this year.
Most infections have occurred in unvaccinated children under 10. The UKHSA attributes the measles resurgence to declining vaccination rates, as MMR jab uptake has dropped to its lowest level in a decade.
As of last summer, 91.8% of five-year-olds in England had received one MMR dose, with 83.7% fully vaccinated. However, in many regions like Enfield, Birmingham, and Haringey, vaccination rates are considerably lower.
WHO emphasizes a 95% vaccine coverage rate for achieving “herd immunity” against transmissible diseases like measles. Starting this year, the