Measles outbreak spreads through north London schools as leaders urge vaccinations
The prime minister has urged parents to check their children’s vaccination records as a measles outbreak in north London continues to spread through schools and nurseries. Local health services say dozens of cases have been confirmed in Enfield and neighbouring boroughs, with a number of children requiring hospital treatment.
Outbreak in north London schools
Between 1 January and 9 February (ET), Enfield recorded 34 laboratory-confirmed measles cases, making up more than a third of the 96 cases identified across the country so far this year. Local clinics have confirmed infections in at least seven schools and a nursery across Enfield and Haringey, and health teams describe transmission as ongoing.
Clinicians at a GP surgery in the area have reported that about one in five of the children infected during the recent outbreak required hospital treatment; all of those hospitalised were not fully immunised. Unvaccinated pupils who are identified as close contacts of confirmed cases may be asked to stay away from school for up to 21 days under national health guidance, a measure used to limit further spread during local outbreaks.
Vaccination warnings and public health response
The prime minister warned that public health should not be subjected to culture war debates and urged parents to ensure children are up to date with recommended vaccinations. He stressed that vaccines are safe, effective and can save lives, and called on political leaders to back science in protecting young people from preventable illness.
Local health teams have been working to contain the outbreak, increase public awareness and identify close contacts. NHS childhood vaccine coverage in the borough is well below the level needed to prevent outbreaks: only 64. 3% of five-year-olds in Enfield received both doses of the MMR vaccine in 2024/25, far short of the 95% threshold typically cited for community protection.
Wider risks and national context
The country lost its measles elimination status in 2024 after a large rise in confirmed cases. National modelling set out in a risk assessment projects that a large-scale London outbreak could result in between 40, 000 and 160, 000 infections, with hospitalisation rates estimated to range from 20% to 40% depending on age profiles of those infected. Measles is highly infectious and can lead to severe complications, including pneumonia and inflammation of the brain, and in rare cases long-term disability or death.
Health officials are urging families to check vaccination records for children and adults alike and to seek advice from healthcare providers if they suspect exposure or symptoms. Typical early signs of measles include fever, cough and a blotchy rash; white spots in the mouth often follow. Most cases resolve without lasting harm, but the current cluster serves as a reminder of how quickly the virus can spread where immunity is incomplete.
Public health teams say they will continue targeted vaccination and communication efforts in affected communities to halt transmission and restore higher levels of protection among young children.
