According to a UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) update this week, between January 1, 2026 and July 6, 2026 there have been 883 laboratory confirmed measles cases reported in England, an increase of 82 cases since the last report two weeks ago.
This compares to the 959 laboratory-confirmed measles cases reported in all of 2025.
Sixty-one percent of the cases, or 539 of these cases were in children aged 10 years and under, and 33% (290) were in young people and adults aged 15 years and over.
More than half the cases (463) were from London.
Measles: A Public Health Wake-Up Call in the US
Three measles related deaths have been reported to date in 2026: one was an acute measles death in a child, another was a death in a child due to late effects of measles, and the third was a death in an adult with an underlying immunological problem.
Measles is spread through coughing and sneezing, close personal contact or direct contact with infected nasal or throat secretions.
Measles is one of the most highly communicable infectious diseases.
It takes from 7 to 18 days (average 10 to 12 days) after exposure for a patient to develop measles infection.
Period of infectivity in a patient from 4 days before the onset of rash to 4 days afterwards.
The earliest signs of measles infection include:
high fever
runny nose
cough
red and watery eyes
koplik spots (small red spots with bluish-white centres) inside the mouth
After several days, a rash appears, usually on the face and upper neck. The rash spreads, eventually reaching the hands and feet and lasts 5 to 6 days before fading. Measles is commonly confused with other infections that can lead to a rash.
Related news:
France reports 1st Ebola case in individual returning from DRC
Ukraine accuses Russia of creating conditions for the spread of anthrax
Greece reports shigellosis and hepatitis A in men who have sex with men (MSM)
The most common complications of measles infection are ear infections (otitis media), pneumonia, severe diarrhea and related dehydration. Other, less common complications include convulsions and encephalitis (an infection that causes the brain to swell). Serious consequences are more common in individuals with poor immune systems (such as children being treated for leukemia or on certain drugs).
A patient with measles should avoid contact with unvaccinated young children, susceptible pregnant women and immunocompromised persons during the contagious period (specifically until 4 days after onset of rash).
Getting two doses of a measles-containing vaccine is the best way to protect against measles.