England measles case count tops 1100 in past six months
Measles cases continue to climb in England. A rapid increase in cases seen in late 2023 was initially driven by a large outbreak in Birmingham but activity there has now stabilized and in more recent weeks we have seen a rise in cases in London and smaller clusters ongoing in other regions.
During the past week, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) reported an additional 86 laboratory confirmed measles cases, bringing the total cases to 1,109 since October 1, 2023.
January, February and March 2024 has seen the most cases with 274, 253 and 299 cases, respectively.
Nearly half the cases (535) have been reported in West Midlands, while about a quarter of the cases (269) are reported in London.
Two-thirds of the cases were reported in children aged 10 years and under.
Dr Vanessa Saliba, UKHSA Consultant Epidemiologist, said:
Numbers of measles cases are rising across the country, with a particular increase seen in London in recent weeks.
We know some communities in London have very low MMR vaccination rates. Measles is extremely infectious and it only takes one case to get into these communities for this disease to spread rapidly, especially in schools and nurseries.
The MMR jab offers the best protection against measles. Measles is preventable but many thousands of children around the country are still not fully vaccinated and may be at risk of serious illness or life-long complications. No parent wants this for their child.
Parents should check their child’s Red Book now to ensure that children are up to date with the MMR and other routine vaccines. If you’re unsure, contact your GP practice to check. Your GP can offer the vaccinations your child needs to bring them up to date. If the NHS contacts you about catching up on missed vaccines, please respond as soon as possible.