UK public health officials have confirmed there have been almost 350 cases of measles between October and January in England.
Latest data from the UK Health Security Agency said from 1 October to 23 January 347 cases of measles were confirmed in the laboratory, with 127 of those in 2024.
Three-quarters of confirmed cases were in the West Midlands where 260 have now been reported, UKHSA said.
The ongoing outbreak around Birmingham prompted officials to declare a national incident last month over fears measles would spread to other areas without ‘urgent action’.
UKHSA chief executive Professor Dame Jenny Harries had warned of a ‘very real risk’ of the virus spreading in other towns and cities due to low vaccine uptake in some communities.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has also warned that European countries have seen a 30-fold rise in measles as a result of declining vaccine coverage.
In England, MMR figures last year show the lowest uptake since 2010/11 – at 84.5% of five-year-olds who have had both doses. In some areas, including Birmingham and pockets of London, uptake is 75% or lower, figures suggest.
The latest figures also show 46 confirmed cases in London and 24 in Yorkshire and the Humber. Most (67%) are in children under the age of 10 years and a quarter are in young people and adults aged over 15 years.
GPs have been asked to deliver a catch-up MMR vaccination programme for children aged between 12 months and five years, and in response to recent outbreaks, NHS England launched a campaign this month for children aged six to 11 who still require the vaccine.
But the BMA has warned that GP practices are un urgent need of support to tackle the ongoing outbreak.
Concerns have also been raised about the ‘Wakefield generation’ of now young adults who were not vaccinated when they were children.
GPs were told to prepare for an increase in enquiries, and NHS England advised healthcare professionals, including GP practice staff, to wear PPE when dealing with suspected measles cases.
The BMA’s GP Committee has told Pulse that GPs need to be resourced to cover this work safely, especially at a time when general practice is already under pressure.
Dr Vanessa Saliba, UKHSA consultant epidemiologist, said: ‘The ongoing measles outbreak in the West Midlands remains a concern. MMR vaccine coverage has been falling for the last decade with 1 out of 10 children starting school in England not protected and so there is a real risk that this outbreak could spread to other towns and cities.
‘Measles is a nasty illness for most children and for some can be serious, but it is completely preventable. If you or your child are not up to date with your two doses of MMR vaccine please contact your GP to catch-up now,’ she said.
