Starmer warns as measles outbreak spreads in north London schools
Prime Minister Keir Starmer has urged parents to check that their children are up to date with vaccinations after a measles outbreak swept through schools in north London. Local health teams have confirmed dozens of cases and hospital admissions, and officials warn that gaps in vaccine coverage leave communities vulnerable to wider spread.
Outbreak details and local response
Health teams in Enfield recorded 34 laboratory-confirmed measles cases between Jan. 1 and Feb. 9 ET, representing more than one third of the 96 cases identified across the country so far this year. At least seven schools across Enfield and neighbouring Haringey have confirmed infections, and local clinicians say the virus is spreading through nurseries and primary settings.
A local GP surgery has said that around one in five children infected in the recent cluster required hospital treatment, and that those hospitalised were not fully immunised. Public health guidance permits exclusion from school for unvaccinated close contacts of confirmed cases for up to 21 days; some local authorities have communicated that measure directly to families to help contain transmission.
The prime minister said: "Vaccines are safe, effective and can be life saving. Public health isn't a culture war. It's about keeping our communities safe. " He also called on leaders to stand behind science and not amplify conspiracy theories that could undermine vaccination efforts.
Symptoms, risks and public health advice
Measles is a highly infectious viral illness that typically begins with cold-like symptoms — fever, cough and runny nose — followed by a widespread blotchy rash and small white spots inside the mouth. While many children recover without lasting harm, measles can cause serious complications including pneumonia, encephalitis (brain inflammation), long-term disability and, in rare cases, death.
Health teams advise parents to keep any child with suspected measles away from school and childcare settings and to contact a clinician before attending in person so appropriate infection-control steps can be taken. Where there are confirmed cases, public health staff may identify close contacts and recommend exclusion for those who are not fully vaccinated.
Vaccination gaps and wider risks
Experts point to steep declines in childhood vaccine uptake as a key driver of the current resurgence. In Enfield, just 64. 3% of five-year-olds received both doses of the measles-containing vaccine in 2024/25 — well below the roughly 95% coverage generally considered necessary to maintain community protection against outbreaks.
Health modelling prepared for risk assessment work indicates that, if a large-scale measles outbreak were to take hold in a major city, infections could number in the tens of thousands — with estimates ranging from roughly 40, 000 to 160, 000 cases depending on the scale of spread. Hospitalisation rates in such scenarios are projected to vary markedly by age, with estimates between 20% and 40% of cases requiring hospital care in certain groups.
Public health teams are urging every parent and caregiver to check childhood immunisation records and to arrange catch-up MMR or MMRV vaccinations where children are behind schedule. Clinicians say boosting coverage in the coming weeks will be the most effective way to limit further school disruption and protect the most vulnerable children.
For families in affected areas: review your child’s vaccination history, keep symptomatic children at home, and seek medical advice promptly if measles is suspected. Communities with low coverage are being asked to come forward for immunisations to reduce the risk of further, preventable illness.
