England's Measles Outbreak Reaches the Upper-Tier Local Authorities

During 2024 and 2025, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) reported measles outbreaks in the greater London area. This year, 213 laboratory-confirmed measles cases have been reported in England.

As of April 11, 2025, in London, 24% (52 of 213) of the measles cases have been reported, 21% in the South West, and 17% in Yorkshire and Humber.

However, recently, 57 out of 152 upper-tier local authorities have reported at least one confirmed case with symptom onset since the start of January 2025, with the highest numbers reported in Bristol, Leeds, and Hertfordshire.

The positive news from the UKHSA is that no acute measles-related deaths have been reported in 2025. 

In 2024, there were 2,911 laboratory-confirmed measles cases in England, the highest number of cases recorded annually since 2012. This was initially driven by an outbreak in Birmingham but was soon overtaken by a large outbreak in London, with small clusters in other regions.

Since measles is a vaccine-preventable disease, in the UK, children receive two doses of the combined measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine as part of the routine childhood immunisation schedule.