Map reveals UK measles hotspots, as Victorian disease hits 1,000 cases

The virus is highly contagious (Picture: Getty Images) After a 15-year fall in vaccinations, England and Wales are now in the midst of a measles outbreak, with three confirmed deaths this year as a result of the contagious virus. According to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), there have been 1,003 cases of measles recorded so far in 2026, already higher than last year’s total of 960. More than six in 10 (61%) of those infected since January 1 have been aged under 10, with authorities reporting in June that two young children had died from the disease. The following month, measles also caused the death of an adult with an underlying immunological condition. As one of the most highly communicable infectious diseases, the recent increase in cases has sparked fears of a US-style measles wave. In what’s being described as a ‘deeply concerning’ situation, four people died of measles in Pennsylvaniain three weeks this September — despite the state not reporting a single measles-associated death for more than 30 years previously. Recent outbreaks have been linked to reduced vaccination uptake (Picture: Getty Images) Many refer to measles as a ‘Victorian disease’ because it was widespread and deadly during the 19th century, when there was little medical treatment available and communities suffered from overcrowding and poor hygiene. After to the first single-dose vaccine was introduced in 1968, the UK’s massive biennial spikes of up to 800,000 cases quickly dropped to less than 100,000, while the combined MMR (Measles, Mumps, and Rubella) jab’s launch two decades later saw cases reach historic lows. In 2017, the UK then achieved official World Health Organization (WHO) ‘measles elimination’ status for the first time, but this has since been revoked. Should the government enforce stricter vaccination policies to prevent measles outbreaks? Yes, to protect public healthCheck No, it should be a personal choiceCheck Only in areas with low vaccination ratesCheck Sign up to Metro's The Slice newsletter for your guide to what's on in London, with trusted reviews, offers and giveaways. Ask Metro Use AI to go deeper into the stories you care about – powered by Metro and trusted publications. Graham Blair, chief executive of the British Society for Immunology, said the recent outbreak was ‘not unexpected’, as vaccination uptake needs to be above 95% to prevent the spread, whereas last year just 83.7% of children in England received theirs by the recommended age. ‘Measles vaccine coverage has been steadily declining since 2021, reducing population immunity,’ he commented. ‘Given that measles is highly contagious, it can spread quickly among people who are not protected. As a result, measles outbreaks are becoming more frequent, particularly in densely populated areas where vaccine uptake is low.’ Where are UK measles cases highest This year’s outbreak has been most acutely felt in London, with more than half of recorded cases (463) in the capital and 111 in Enfield alone. The West Midlands — Birmingham in particular, which has reached 81 cases in 2026 — is another hotspot, and there have also been clusters in Hertfordshire, Yorkshire, Greater Manchester, Merseyside, Lancashire, Kent, and Essex. In total, 25 council areas in England and Wales have recorded 10 or more lab-confirmed cases; the threshold for UKHSA data inclusion. As such, the exact locations of more than 200 infections haven’t been published by the authority. Measles symptoms According to the NHS, ‘measles usually starts with cold-like symptoms, followed by a rash a few days later’, and some people may also get small spots in their mouth lasting a few days. These early indicators include: a high temperature a runny or blocked nose sneezing a cough red, sore, watery eyes From there, a rash typically appears on the face and behind the ears before spreading to the rest of the body. After cold symptoms, you’ll typically get an itchy rash (Picture: Getty Images) ‘The spots of the measles rash are sometimes raised and join together to form blotchy patches,’ it explains. ‘They’re not usually itchy. The rash looks brown or red on white skin, but it may be harder to see on brown and black skin.’ If you think you or your child has measles — or if your child under 1 year old has come into contact with someone who has it, or you have while pregnant, immunocompromised or unvaccinated — you’re advised to call 111. Avoid attending nursery, school or work for at least four days from when the rash first appears, and try to steer clear of babies and anyone who may be at a higher risk of serious complications as a result of measles. 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