Overview

• Measles cases are surging in the UK, particularly in London and the West Midlands, with 216 confirmed and 103 probable cases reported in the West Midlands since October 1 last year.
• A London mother whose son died from a brain inflammation caused by measles is urging parents to vaccinate their children more. Her son had been on a delayed vaccination programme due to constant chest infections, which later turned out to be asthma.
• Professor Dame Jenny Harries, chief executive of the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), has warned that measles is spreading among unvaccinated communities and a 'national call to action' is needed to ensure children are vaccinated against the potentially deadly disease.
• Vaccination rates have been dropping across the country, with particular concerns about some regions, including parts of London and the West Midlands.
• In the US, Georgia health officials confirmed the state's first case of measles since 2020, one of several outbreaks around the country, many of which are linked to international travel.