Overview

• Since January, England has recorded 420 laboratory-confirmed measles cases, mostly in unvaccinated children under 10.
• Europe logged 127,350 measles cases in 2024—the highest annual total since 1997—with outbreaks in France, Italy, Spain and Germany.
• Two-dose MMR vaccination is about 97% effective, yet uptake in England has slipped below the WHO’s 95% threshold and is as low as 73% in London.
• Global measles cases rose to an estimated 10.3 million in 2023, driven by declining vaccine coverage and increased international travel.
• Public health agencies are advising families to verify MMR status and schedule catch-up jabs before visiting high-risk regions this summer.