Fast-spreading measles outbreak takes hold among under-10s in north London

A big measles outbreak in north-east London is affecting unvaccinated children under the age of 10, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has confirmed.UKHSA previously reported 34 laboratory-confirmed measles cases among children who attend schools and nurseries in Enfield from 1 January to 9 February, with some requiring hospital treatment.Measles is a highly infectious viral illness that can spread very easily among people who are not fully vaccinated. While many people recover, the illness can lead to serious complications such as pneumonia, brain inflammation and, in rare cases, long-term disability or death.Dr Vanessa Saliba, a consultant epidemiologist at the UKHSA, said: “Our latest data shows we are now seeing a big measles outbreak in north-east London, mostly affecting unvaccinated children under 10 in schools and nurseries, with some being hospitalised.“Measles is a nasty illness for any child but for some it can lead to long-term complications and, tragically, death, but [it] is so easily preventable with two doses of the MMRV vaccine.” The MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) was replaced by the MMRV with the addition of chickenpox (varicella) to the vaccination.Saliba urged families to ensure their children have not missed any doses. She said: “With Easter holidays fast approaching, it is a timely reminder to families travelling overseas to ensure all family members, especially children, are vaccinated, as measles is widespread in some countries with close links to the UK and there are ongoing outbreaks in parts of Europe.”Global health officials announced earlier this year that the UK was no longer considered to have eliminated measles after reporting almost 4,000 infections since 2024.The outbreak comes amid declining uptake of the MMRV vaccine across the UK, with only about 84% of children receiving both doses by the age of five, well below the 95% level needed to prevent outbreaks.Enfield has one of the lowest MMRV vaccine uptake rates in the country, according to UKHSA figures from last August, which showed just 64.3% of five-year-olds in the borough received both doses in 2024-25.The Sunday Times reported that more than 60 suspected cases of measles had been reported by seven schools and a nursery in Enfield.A message posted on the borough’s Ordnance Unity Centre for Health GP surgery website described a “fast-spreading measles outbreak”. It said: “During this recent outbreak, one in five children have been hospitalised due to measles and all of them had not been fully immunised.”Alev Cazimoglu, Enfield council’s cabinet member for health and social care, said: “The current outbreak has mainly affected children and some have required additional care with a short stay in hospital. Measles is one of the most infectious known diseases. It is approximately six times more infectious than Covid-19.“Catching the measles is entirely preventable, but it spreads extremely quickly where vaccination levels are low. By checking your family’s vaccination status and taking up the free NHS vaccine, you are protecting not only yourselves but also vulnerable members of our community.”Dudu Sher-Arami, Enfield’s director of public health, is writing to every parent in the area to try to contain the spread of the disease. Temporary vaccination centres have been established in schools across the borough in an effort to boost immunisation levels.Sher-Arami told The Sunday Times the outbreak had the potential to cause a “much greater and bigger pan-London outbreak” as people travel across the city for work and school.She said average vaccination figures – which are low across the city – masked significant pockets of very low uptake, which created prime areas for measles to spread.Modelling of a large measles outbreak in London by the UKHSA suggests between 40,000 and 160,000 people could become infected. Last July a child died from measles in Liverpool after a small outbreak there.Since the start of the year there have been 96 confirmed cases of measles in England, three-quarters affecting children under 10. Enfield has had the highest numbers, followed by Birmingham.There is no specific treatment for measles, only the vaccination to prevent catching it.Although the vaccination has been proven to be safe and effective, now-debunked claims that the injection was linked to autism have persisted on social media and among some minority ethnic communities, contributing to vaccine hesitancy.Measles spreads through coughs and sneezes and by touching contaminated surfaces, making it extremely easy to pass on in schools. Early symptoms include a high fever, runny nose, sneezing, coughing and red, watery eyes. A blotchy red-brown rash usually appears a few days later, starting on the face before spreading across the body.