The UK is no longer considered to have “eliminated” measles, global health officials have announced.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) confirmed that measles transmission was “re-established” in the UK in 2024.
This follows a plateau in vaccination coverage and a surge in cases, with 3,681 recorded across the country this year.
From 2021 to 2023, the UK had previously held the status of having eliminated the disease.
Dr Vanessa Saliba, consultant epidemiologist at UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), said: “Infections can return quickly when childhood vaccine uptake falls. Measles elimination is only possible if all eligible children receive two MMRV doses before school.
“Older children and adults who missed vaccination must be caught up.
“The NHS is making vaccination easier, including offering the second MMRV dose earlier at a new 18-month appointment to boost uptake and support elimination goals.”
The latest figures for England from the UKHSA show that in 2024/25 some 91.9 per cent of five-year-olds had received one dose of the MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccine, unchanged from 2023/24 and the lowest level since 2010/11.
And just 83.7 per cent of five-year-olds had received both MMR doses, down year-on-year from 83.9 per cent and the lowest level since 2009/10.
The WHO recommends at least 95 per cent of children should receive vaccine doses for each illness to achieve herd immunity.
In January health officials announced that UK children will now be offered the MMRV vaccine, which protects against measles, mumps, rubella and chickenpox.
