Measles Outbreaks Surge in U.K. and U.S. Amid Declining Vaccination Rates

Health authorities urge vaccination as effective prevention, linking current outbreaks to disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Measles outbreaks are on the rise in the United Kingdom and the United States, with the majority of cases occurring in unvaccinated individuals.
In the U.K., over 300 probable cases have been detected since October, primarily in Birmingham, while the U.S. has reported at least 23 cases since December.
Health authorities are urging the public to get vaccinated, as the measles vaccine is almost 100% effective in preventing infection.
Measles vaccination rates have seen a slight decline in recent years, falling below the ideal 95% rate, which is necessary to prevent outbreaks.
Experts link the measles outbreaks to the COVID-19 pandemic, as over 61 million measles vaccine doses were postponed or missed globally from 2020 to 2022.