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North London Measles Outbreak Expands, Driving England’s 2026 Case Increase

Falling vaccination coverage has left pockets of unprotected children, leading to hospitalisations and urgent calls for MMR catch‑up and post‑exposure protection.

Overview

  • UKHSA reports 50 confirmed cases in Enfield and 10 in Haringey, contributing to 130 cases in England between Jan. 1 and Feb. 16, with 88 in London overall.
  • Most infections are in unvaccinated children under 10 linked to schools and nurseries, and some have required hospital care, with exclusions advised for unvaccinated contacts.
  • The WHO stripped the UK of measles elimination status in January after a 2024 surge; current MMR coverage in England is 91.9% for one dose and 83.7% for two, far below the 95% target.
  • U.S. cases have reached 982 across 26 states this year, largely among the unvaccinated, with a major South Carolina outbreak driving the national total.
  • Health departments in Canada (Parkland County, Alberta), Australia (Victoria) and the U.S. (including a Delaware ER exposure) issued alerts urging immediate vaccination within 72 hours of exposure or immunoglobulin within six days for vulnerable groups.