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Enfield Measles Outbreak Prompts School Exclusions and Catch‑Up Clinics

Targeted vaccination drives follow the loss of measles elimination status in the UK.

Overview

  • UKHSA confirms 34 measles cases in Enfield from 1 January to 9 February, with more than 60 additional suspected infections reported by seven schools and a nursery.
  • Some children have required hospital treatment, and a local GP surgery reports about one in five recent cases needed admission and were not fully immunised.
  • Enfield Council has told parents unvaccinated contacts of cases may be excluded from school for 21 days in line with national guidance.
  • Two‑dose MMR coverage for five‑year‑olds in Enfield is about 64.3%, well below the 95% needed to prevent outbreaks, as local NHS teams run catch‑up clinics and extra GP appointments.
  • The prime minister and health minister are urging parents to vaccinate and dismissing conspiracy theories, while UKHSA modelling warns a large London resurgence could reach 40,000–160,000 cases if uptake remains low.