Measles outbreak spreads through UK

Children could be forced to miss up to three weeks of school in isolation as measles cases continue to surge across parts of the UK.Nearly 100 cases of the highly contagious disease have already been confirmed this year, with the majority involving primary school-aged children. In Enfield, north London, currently one of the hardest-hit areas, parents have been warned that unvaccinated pupils who come into contact with someone infected may be required to stay off school for 21 days.Guidance issued locally states that unvaccinated children should be excluded for three weeks following exposure. Those who suspect they have contracted measles have also been advised to isolate yourself if possible to help limit further spread.Dudu Sher-Arami, Enfield Councils director of public health, wrote to parents: If your child is identified as being a close contact of a person with measles and they are unvaccinated, they may be excluded from school for 21 days.Health officials say the current outbreak is being driven in part by falling uptake of the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine, which has dropped to 84 per cent, the lowest level in more than a decade. The World Health Organisation recently removed the UKs measles-free status after thousands of confirmed cases in 2024 and continued high numbers in 2025.According to the UK Health Security Agency, 96 cases have been recorded up to early February this year, with 77 per cent involving children under 10. Nearly two-thirds of all infections were in London, and more than half of those were concentrated in Enfield alone.Local officials say the outbreak has affected multiple schools. Enfield Councillor Alev Cazimoglu said the surge had mainly affected children and some have required additional care with a short stay in hospital.National guidance states that unvaccinated close contacts of a measles case, including siblings and classmates, should be told to self-exclude during the risk period. It adds that headteachers may wish to consider excluding unvaccinated pupils who have been exposed because of the risk to other students.Measles is one of the most infectious diseases in the world, capable of spreading to up to 18 unvaccinated people from a single case. While many associate the illness with a red rash, it typically begins with cold-like symptoms before the rash appears. In some cases, particularly among vulnerable children, complications can include pneumonia, blindness and other life-threatening conditions.Health officials are urging families to ensure vaccinations are up to date. Dr Ash Banerjee, a public health consultant for NHS England in the Midlands, said: Half term offers a natural pause for families, which is a good opportunity to check whether vaccinations are up to date.With the new measles data, we want parents and carers to feel supported seeking advice about anything theyre unsure of, including the new MMRV vaccine, which extends protection to include measles, mumps, rubella and chickenpox.Dr Vanessa Saliba of the UKHSA added: Infections can return quickly when childhood vaccine uptake falls; measles elimination is only possible if all eligible children receive two MMRV doses before school.The post Measles outbreak spreads through UK appeared first on Linda Ikeji Blog.