Measles, a disease many thought was nearly consigned to history in the UK, has returned with a vengeance in 2026. North London, particularly the borough of Enfield, has emerged as the epicentre of a rapidly expanding outbreak, sparking alarm among health officials, parents, and schools. The numbers are stark: as of February 19, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) reported 16 new cases in Enfield in just the past week, with 10 more in neighbouring Haringey. That brings London’s total to 88 confirmed cases since the start of the year, and the majority are children under the age of ten, according to the BBC.
But these official figures may only scratch the surface. As Dr Vanessa Saliba, consultant epidemiologist at UKHSA, explained to the Evening Standard, "With the time lag involved with confirming cases through laboratory testing, we expect the actual number of cases to be higher." Local GPs in Enfield echoed this concern, noting that one in five children diagnosed with measles have required hospitalisation—and every single hospitalised child was not fully immunised, according to information shared with HuffPost UK.
The outbreak’s trajectory is not just a local issue. UKHSA modelling, cited by The Sun, suggests that in a worst-case scenario, up to 160,000 Londoners could contract measles if current trends continue unchecked. This could result in 480 cases of encephalitis—a dangerous and potentially life-threatening inflammation of the brain. Ava Easton, chief executive of Encephalitis International, didn’t mince words: "Measles isn’t a harmless childhood illness. In some cases, it can cause encephalitis – a devastating brain inflammation that can lead to seizures, permanent disability or even death."
The ripple effects of the outbreak are already being felt beyond London. Southend City Council, for example, warned that rising cases in Enfield are "likely to reach Essex, Southend and Thurrock." Krishna Ramkhelawon, director of public health at Southend-on-Sea City Council, tried to reassure worried families, saying, "We know the news of measles cases nearby can be worrying for families, but I want to reassure parents and carers that there is a simple and very effective way to protect children. The MMR vaccine has been safely used for many years and offers excellent protection."
So, what’s driving this resurgence? The answer, health experts say, is clear: falling vaccination rates. Nationally, the average measles vaccination rate in England for 2024-2025 was 83.7%, well below the 95% threshold needed for herd immunity. In London, the rate drops to 69.6%, and in Enfield, it plummets to just 64.3%. That means roughly one in three children in Enfield are not fully protected. Dr Oge Ilozue, a GP in Barnet and senior clinical advisor for the NHS London Vaccination Programme, told the BBC, "We’ve used (the vaccines) for years and years and we know they are safe and effective at protecting against these diseases and the complications that might occur." But she acknowledged that misinformation online, complacency, and vaccine hesitancy are all playing a role in the current crisis.
Some parents, Dr Ilozue noted, mistakenly believe that "it’s only measles." But the risks of the disease are serious and well-documented. Measles can lead to severe complications including pneumonia, brain inflammation (encephalitis), hearing loss, blindness, and in rare cases, death. The illness typically starts off like a bad cold, with a high temperature, runny nose, sneezing, cough, and red, sore, watery eyes. A telltale rash usually appears three to five days after the first symptoms, often starting on the face and spreading to the rest of the body. Koplik spots—small white spots inside the mouth—can help distinguish measles from a common cold, as described by Superdrug’s pharmacy superintendent Niamh McMillan to HuffPost UK.
The UK’s struggle with measles is not new, but recent events have marked a turning point. In January 2026, the World Health Organization stripped the UK of its measles elimination status after cases soared to 3,681 in 2024—the worst outbreak in nearly a decade. The following year, England recorded 957 cases and one death. The latest UKHSA data shows that only 91.9% of five-year-olds in England received the first dose of the MMR vaccine in 2024/25, unchanged from the previous year and the lowest level since 2010/11. For two doses, the rate fell to 83.7%, the lowest since 2009/10.
In response, both local and national health authorities have ramped up efforts to boost vaccination rates. The NHS is taking vaccination programmes directly into communities and places of worship, hoping to reach families who might otherwise be missed. Lucia das Neves, member for health at Haringey Council, told the BBC, "As vaccination is the most effective way to protect your family and the whole community, we have and will continue to urge everyone who is not fully vaccinated to do so now. We will continue to mobilise every resource available to us and work alongside healthcare services, schools and community groups to support our residents."
The government is also launching a new campaign to improve uptake of childhood vaccinations, including the newly introduced MMRV jab, which adds protection against chickenpox. Now, children receive one dose at 12 months and a second at 18 months, rather than waiting until age three for the booster. This change, according to UKHSA, is designed to boost immunity earlier and prevent outbreaks among the most vulnerable.
Schools are on the front lines of the response. Earlier this week, parents in affected areas were informed that unvaccinated children who come into contact with measles may be excluded from school for up to three weeks to prevent further spread. The NHS and public health officials have advised parents to contact their GP or NHS 111 urgently if they suspect their child has measles—and to call ahead, given how contagious the illness is.
Experts warn that the consequences of unchecked spread could be dire. In addition to encephalitis, up to 160 children in London could develop post-infectious encephalitis, and between two and five children could develop subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE), a rare but fatal brain disorder, with as many as 30 SSPE cases possible if more babies under one year old are infected, according to modelling shared with The Sun. Symptoms of encephalitis include confusion, seizures, personality changes, difficulty speaking, weakness, hallucinations, and loss of consciousness. Medical experts urge anyone experiencing these symptoms to seek urgent care.
Since the introduction of the measles vaccine in 1968, the UK Health Security Agency estimates that 20 million measles cases and 4,500 deaths have been prevented in the UK. Yet, with vaccination rates at a ten-year low—not just for measles, but also for other childhood diseases like whooping cough and polio—the country now faces the very real risk of further outbreaks. As Sir Keir Starmer emphasised on X, "Vaccines are safe, effective and can be life saving. We’re urging all parents to check their children are up to date with their recommended vaccinations."
For many, the message is clear: the return of measles is a warning. The tools to stop it exist, but only if communities act together—one vaccination at a time.