Experts are warning parents to check their children have have had measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) jabs before embarking on summer holidays or attending festivals where measles can easily spread.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) published new data showing a rise in measles cases in England, with 49 cases between January 1 and April 20, compared to 54 cases for the whole of 2022. Most of the cases have been in London, though they have cropped up in other regions and some cases are linked to travel abroad.
Measles vaccinations have fallen in recent years, with uptake of the first MMR dose in two-year-olds in England being 89%, while uptake of two doses by age five is just 85%. This is well below the 95% target set by the World Health Organisation (WHO) to eliminate the disease.
