More than 60 suspected cases of measles have been identified in 7 schools and 1 nursery in the British capital. As reported by The Sunday Times, the outbreak has been reported in the Enfield district of north London.
In 34 cases, measles has been laboratory confirmed; in some cases, children have required hospitalization. Doctors explain this situation with the low level of vaccination in London with the combined MMR vaccine, which protects against measles, mumps and rubella - one of the lowest in the country. One of the reasons for this, the newspaper points to the doubts that the population has about the effectiveness of vaccines in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In January, the World Health Organization stripped the United Kingdom of its measles-eliminated status.
The Sunday Times notes that health authorities are making efforts to minimize the spread of one of the world's most contagious diseases. The United Kingdom's Health Security Agency estimates that a measles outbreak in London could affect between 40,000 and 160,000 people.
Child vaccination rates in England have fallen to their lowest level in a decade. This includes vaccinations against measles and whooping cough. The publication reports that in 2024, almost 15,000 cases of whooping cough were registered in the country, and 11 newborns died.
Based on data reported by countries for 2024, the European Regional Audit Commission for Measles and Rubella concluded in September 2025 that the number of countries with ongoing or renewed endemic transmission of measles had increased from 12 in the previous year to 19 in 2024. This is the most significant step back in the elimination of measles in the region in recent years. As experts remind us, measles is one of the most contagious viruses that infects humans: each person who becomes infected can infect up to 18 other unvaccinated people. This makes measles about 12 times more contagious than influenza, and the disease can cause long-term health complications and even be fatal. Two doses of measles vaccine provide up to 97% lifelong protection against the disease.