A recent map highlights the regions in the country where measles is resurging following the UK losing its status of eliminating the virus.
The World Health Organization (WHO) withdrew the UK’s elimination status due to the continuous spread of the virus for over a year. Although the UK was declared measles-free in 2017, this status was lost in 2019 and only regained in 2021.
The temporary regaining of the elimination status in 2021 was mainly due to the implementation of social distancing measures during the pandemic. However, outbreaks reappeared in 2023 and intensified throughout 2024. In 2024, England reported 2,911 confirmed measles cases, the highest count since 2012.
Following this surge, the WHO and the UK Health Security Agency confirmed the re-establishment of endemic transmission of the virus, resulting in the UK losing its elimination status.
Although measles cases have decreased from their peak in 2024, the numbers remain higher than desired. Since the beginning of 2025, England has reported 957 laboratory-confirmed measles cases, with a majority affecting unvaccinated children under 10 years old.
Data from the UK Health Security Agency shows that since 2023, Birmingham has recorded the highest number of measles cases in the country, totaling 534 confirmed cases. The outbreak in Birmingham peaked in 2024 with 364 cases, and decreased to 52 cases in the following year. Several London boroughs also experienced significant outbreaks, with Lambeth reporting 178 cases during the 2024 outbreak, Wandsworth with 164 cases (including 12 in 2025), and Hackney with 152 cases (most in 2025).
Apart from London and Birmingham, there have been at least 124 confirmed cases over the last three years in Leicester, 108 in Leeds, 102 in Herefordshire, and 100 in Bristol. This rise in cases coincided with a decline in vaccination rates across England, reaching their lowest point in a decade.
As of last summer, 91.8% of five-year-olds in England had received one dose of the MMR vaccine, while 83.7% had completed both doses, below the 95% threshold required for “herd immunity.” In certain regions, vaccination rates were notably lower, with only 75.5% of five-year-olds in Birmingham receiving both MMR doses and 58.3% in Hackney, London.
Dr. Vanessa Saliba, a Consultant Epidemiologist at UKHSA, emphasized the importance of high vaccine uptake to maintain measles elimination, highlighting the need for catching up on missed vaccinations. The NHS is simplifying the vaccination process by offering the second MMR dose earlier at an 18-month appointment to enhance uptake and support elimination efforts.
Measles symptoms include fever, cough, sneezing, red and watery eyes, and a rash that appears after initial symptoms. While measles typically improves within a week, it can lead to severe complications if it spreads to other organs, especially affecting infants and individuals with weakened immune systems.