LSHTM comments on the measles outbreak in London and asks for parents' help to check children are up-to-date on vaccines as cases rise
Figures regularly published by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) show that cases of measles in England have been rising since the start of 2026.
Since 1 January 2026, there have been a total of 158 laboratory-confirmed cases of measles reported in England, with 66% (104) in London and 21% (33) in the West Midlands.
Schools in the London area are urging parents to check whether their children are vaccinated to schedule to minimise the risk of the serious illness spreading. Due to how quickly the virus spreads, some reports indicate that the true number of cases may be higher.
Speaking about the current outbreak in London, Dr Ben Kasstan-Dabush, Assistant Professor in Global Health & Development at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), said: "This is a worrying time for parents and the immediate priority is to ensure that all children catch-up on any missed vaccinations. Families often travel both within the UK and further afield during school holidays, like the recent half term break, and this naturally allows viruses like measles to circulate.
"In Hackney, approximately 1 in 3 children haven't received their first dose of vaccine protecting against measles by two years of age. Patchy vaccination coverage is allowing measles to spread and is putting children at risk of serious complications, and at risk of death, as we saw last year in Liverpool.
"We know that many parents may be struggling to find the time to book in scheduled vaccines or are unclear on where they can go to ask questions.
"Healthcare practitioners and researchers are working with local authorities and schools on longer-term strategies to ensure parents have flexible access to vaccination services and can also benefit from touchpoints to speak to a trained healthcare practitioner and discuss their questions and concerns. But right now we need parents' help to check with their local GP that their children are up-to-date on the recommended vaccines for their age and book in appointments to schedule, to minimise the serious impacts that outbreaks like this one could have.
"There has been a downward trend in routine childhood vaccination coverage over the past decade, and this has resulted in nationwide measles outbreaks since 2024 with cases recorded in every local authority across England.
"For the 2024-2025 period, the proportion of children in England who received their first dose of the Measles, Mumps & Rubella (MMR) vaccine by two years of age was 88.9%. This is consistent with the year before but is still much lower than the 95% threshold recommended by the World Health Organization to prevent the spread of the disease.
"Cases are rising in neighbourhoods that are among the most deprived in England and affecting families who are often moving between addresses. Declining vaccine coverage nationwide is happening amidst a relentless cost of living crisis, characterised by a generational decline in living standards, continued austerity and unequal pandemic recovery. Infectious diseases like measles affect us all, and we all need to work together to find ways to protect children and the most vulnerable."
Dr Ben Kasstan-Dabush and Dr Alexis Robert from LSHTM explore common questions and how to protect yourself and loved ones in detail in 'Measles in the UK - LSHTM Unpacked'.
In case you don't have time to read the full piece, below are some quick answers:
Why is measles so dangerous?
Measles virus is one of the world's most contagious viruses. One person infected with measles will infect 12 to 18 people, 1 in 15 of those will develop serious complications such as serious brain inflammation (encephalitis), and 1 in 5 children with measles will need to visit hospital for treatment.
In July 2025 a child died in Liverpool's Alder Hey Children's Hospital after contracting measles.
How likely are we to 'catch' measles in the UK?
The UK lost its measles elimination status in January 2026. This is because the number of cases recorded in England in 2024 (2,911) was the highest on record since 2012. Cases have continued, with almost 1,000 recorded in England in 2025 (including one child who sadly died) and over 150 already recorded in 2026.
Before routine measles vaccination began in 1968, England and Wales saw large outbreaks with peaks of 600,000 cases in some years.
Do you need all doses of the measles vaccine to be protected?
Because measles is so infectious, 95% of the population needs to have had the full course of vaccinations to schedule to prevent outbreaks. Measles vaccines have saved more lives than any other vaccine in the past 50 years and it's never too late to get up-to-date.
Over 99% of children and adults who have had the recommended two doses of MMR vaccine will have life-long protection against measles.
Is it safe for my child to be vaccinated against measles?
Measles remains far more dangerous than any measles vaccine - an estimated 107,500 people died globally from measles in 2023, mostly unvaccinated or under-vaccinated children under 5. The scientific consensus is that vaccines against measles are safe, and there is no evidence to support the false claims of a link between the MMR vaccine and autism - the original claims have repeatedly been proven to be fraudulent.
On 2 January 2026 it was announced young children in England would be offered two doses of the combined MMRV vaccine, that protects against chickenpox (varicella) as well as measles, mumps and rubella, replacing the MMR vaccine.
I'm an adult, do I need a measles vaccine?
Measles can be just as serious in adults as it is in children and it's important that all adults check their own vaccination status if they're unsure. It's especially important ahead of starting a family, as measles can be very serious if caught during pregnancy and lead to stillbirth, miscarriage and low birth weight.
How can I find out more about the measles vaccine in the UK?
If you or your child hasn't received both vaccine doses protecting against measles at the recommended schedule, it's never too late. Speak to your GP urgently or ask a local pharmacist for advice and to find out about the different vaccine options available. Different countries also offer different vaccinations, so if you were born or brought up abroad, you may still need to get a vaccine in the UK to be protected.
