Measles cases continue to rise in England - and this is where outbreak could spread next

Measles cases are continuing to spread across England, with most infections among unvaccinated young children.

By Monday, there had been 130 confirmed cases across the country this year, according to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA).

Of those, 34 were identified between 12 and 16 February.

Enfield has been the centre of the outbreak, with 50 confirmed cases coming from within the boundaries of the north London borough.

It has prompted one nearby council to warn that they expect the outbreak to spread to their area next.

And health bosses warn that the actual figure could be much higher due to a lag on lab testing.

Dr Vanessa Saliba, consultant epidemiologist at UKHSA, said: "The outbreak is still mostly affecting unvaccinated children under 10 in schools and nurseries.

"With the time lag involved with confirming cases through laboratory testing, we expect the actual number of cases to be higher.

"The outbreak has led to some children having to be hospitalised.

"Measles is a nasty illness for any child, but for some it can lead to serious long term complications, and, tragically, death, but is so easily preventable with two doses of the MMRV vaccine.

"All parents want what is best for their child. If they have missed any of their doses, or you're unsure, get in touch with your GP surgery. It's never too late to catch up.

"The MMRV vaccine will give them the vital protection they need against this highly contagious disease, but also help protect more vulnerable children around them who are too young or unable to have the vaccine due to a weakened immune system."

Measles is highly infectious among people who are not vaccinated, and can lead to serious complications such as pneumonia, brain inflammation and, in rare cases, long-term disability or death.

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Southend City Council said rising cases in Enfield mean that they are "likely to reach Essex, Southend and Thurrock", and urged parents to check if their children are protected.

The outbreak comes after the World Health Organization said that the UK is no longer considered to have eliminated measles.

(c) Sky News 2026: Measles cases continue to rise in England - and this is where outbreak could spread next