Two children have lost their lives in measles outbreaks this year, as health officials report ongoing disease transmission in various regions of the country. The UK Health Security Agency has disclosed a rise in measles activity, primarily attributed to outbreaks in London, the East of England, and the West Midlands.
The affected cases mainly involve unvaccinated children under the age of 10. This marks the first instance of two child deaths from measles in a single year in England and Wales since 2018. Over the past two weeks, an additional 106 confirmed measles cases have been recorded in England, bringing the total number of cases between January 1 and June 8 to 736, compared to 959 cases for the entire year of 2025.
Dr. Vanessa Saliba, Consultant Epidemiologist at UKHSA, expressed condolences to the families of the deceased children and highlighted the seriousness and fatality potential of measles, urging parents to ensure their children are up to date with MMR or MMRV vaccines for optimal protection. Measles, a highly contagious airborne disease, can lead to severe complications such as blindness, deafness, and neurological issues.
Concerns have been raised about low vaccination rates, with unvaccinated children at risk of exclusion from school during outbreaks. The World Health Organization has noted a resurgence of measles in the UK since 2024 due to declining vaccine coverage below the necessary 95% threshold for herd immunity.
Health Secretary James Murray emphasized the importance of vaccination, stating that measles is not a benign childhood illness and can cause life-threatening complications. Murray urged parents to verify their children’s vaccination status, emphasizing the critical role of the MMR vaccine in preventing the spread of measles and protecting vulnerable individuals in communities.
Vaccine uptake rates in the UK have declined over the years, with only 91.9% of five-year-olds receiving one dose of MMR and 83.7% receiving both doses in 2024-25. The decrease in vaccination rates can be traced back to a discredited 1998 report linking the MMR vaccine to autism.