Interactive Map Exposes London Measles Hotspots Amid Vaccination Crisis
A new interactive map has starkly revealed the areas of London where measles is actively spreading, highlighting a concerning public health situation as childhood vaccination rates plummet to their lowest point in ten years. The data shows that London has accounted for over half of England's measles cases in recent years, with the capital bearing the brunt of the resurgence of this preventable disease.
Loss of Elimination Status and Rising Case Numbers
The United Kingdom has lost its hard-won measles elimination status, a designation revoked by the World Health Organisation after the virus spread continuously for more than twelve months. Britain first achieved measles-free status in 2017, lost it in 2019, regained it in 2021 largely due to pandemic restrictions, but has since seen outbreaks escalate from 2023 onwards.
Across England, there were 2,911 laboratory-confirmed measles cases in 2024, the highest annual figure since 2012. Although cases have declined from that peak, they remain elevated, with 957 laboratory-confirmed infections recorded in England since 1st January 2025. The vast majority of these cases involve unvaccinated children under the age of ten.
London's Disproportionate Burden
London has been particularly affected, accounting for 51 percent of all English cases last year and 46 percent over the past three years. This includes at least 491 laboratory-confirmed cases in the capital during 2025 alone, adding to 1,305 cases in 2024 and 125 in 2023, totalling 1,921 confirmed infections. The actual number is likely higher, as the UK Health Security Agency withholds data from areas reporting fewer than ten cases annually.
Borough-by-Borough Breakdown of Outbreaks
The map identifies specific London boroughs that have experienced substantial measles outbreaks over the past three years:
- 2025: Hackney recorded 133 cases, the highest in London and England, followed by Haringey (34) and Camden (33).
- 2024: Wandsworth was the epicentre with 178 confirmed cases, followed by Harrow (99) and Croydon (98).
- 2023: Hillingdon led with 27 cases, while Tower Hamlets recorded 21.
Over the three-year period, Lambeth has registered the most cumulative cases at 178, followed by Wandsworth (164) and Hackney (152). Only three areas—Richmond Upon Thames, Havering, and the City of London—have reported no laboratory-confirmed cases in the data, though this may reflect suppressed numbers rather than absence of infection.
Alarming Vaccination Rate Decline
This resurgence coincides with a dramatic fall in childhood vaccination uptake across England. As of last summer, only 91.8 percent of five-year-olds had received one dose of the MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccine, with just 83.7 percent protected by both doses. The World Health Organisation states that 95 percent coverage is necessary to achieve herd immunity.
In some London boroughs, rates are critically low. In Hackney, which saw the highest case numbers in 2025, only 58.3 percent of children had received both jabs by their fifth birthday. Lambeth, despite its high case count, fares slightly better at 72.0 percent, but still falls well short of the target.
New Vaccine and Public Health Warnings
This year, the MMR jab has been replaced by the MMRV vaccine, which offers the same protection against measles, mumps, and rubella while also covering chickenpox. Dr Vanessa Saliba, Consultant Epidemiologist at UKHSA, emphasised the urgency of the situation: "Infections can return quickly when childhood vaccine uptake falls; measles elimination is only possible if all eligible children receive two MMRV doses before school."
She added: "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."
Recognising Measles Symptoms
Measles typically presents with:
- High fever
- Coughing and sneezing
- Red, sore, watery eyes
- A distinctive rash that appears after initial symptoms
While the illness usually improves within a week, it can lead to serious complications if it spreads to the lungs or brain. Babies and individuals with weakened immune systems are at particular risk.
