London has seen an outbreak of measles. The first symptoms of measles include: high temperature, rash, runny or blocked nose, sneezing, cough and red, watery eyes.
It comes as new statistics from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) revealed that since 1 January 2026, there have been 96 laboratory confirmed measles cases reported in England.
Some 64% (61) of these cases have been in London, including 34 in Enfield in North London alone, as well as 25 cases in the West Midlands.
If you or your child has a rash and you suspect it's measles, contact your GP and stay away from work for at least four days from when the rash first appears. Please also keep your child out of nursery or school for four days if they currently attend either.
The best way to prevent the spreading of measles is to take the MMR vaccine.
If you're unsure about your child’s vaccination status:
- If they are under five: check their red book.
- If you can’t find the red book or your child is aged five to 18: contact your GP to check whether they’ve had both MMR doses.
If your child is missing either dose of MMR, you can book a catch‑up appointment with your GP. It’s also never too late for adults. If you missed the vaccination as a child, please contact your GP to arrange your MMR catch‑up.
Find out more: https://www.nhs.uk/vaccinations/mmr-vaccine/