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UK Measles Update with Urgent Warning to Parents as over 100 New Cases Confirmed
Health officials say most infections are among unvaccinated children under 11 as low MMR uptake leaves communities vulnerable to rapid spread.
- England recorded 736 measles cases between January 1 and June 8, 2026, according to the UK Health Security Agency, with two children dying from the virus this year.
- Outbreaks persist in London and the West Midlands where vaccine uptake remains low, and the World Health Organisation declared earlier this year that the UK is no longer considered to have eliminated measles.
- Prof Helen Bedford of the Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health noted 91.8% of five-year-olds received one MMR dose in 2024/25, the lowest level since 2010/11, emphasizing vaccination provides the only effective community protection.
- Health Secretary James Murray urged parents to check vaccination status, stating the MMR vaccine "remains the best protection we have against this highly infectious disease," while Dr Vanessa Saliba of the UKHSA offered condolences.
- Dr Ben Kasstan-Dabush of the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine recommended immediate catch-up programs for undervaccinated children, noting long-term strategies must embed vaccination into broader policy changes, such as Best Start hubs.
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Measles outbreak: Two children die as health chiefs issue urgent warning to Britons
Two children have lost their lives to measles in England during 2026, according to health officials who warn the disease remains widespread across the country.The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has confirmed that cases continue to rise at an alarming pace, with 736 infections recorded so far this year.This figure is particularly concerning given that the total for the entire previous year stood at 959 cases. Ongoing outbreaks have prompted re…
·London, United Kingdom
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Coverage Details
Total News Sources12
Leaning Left3Leaning Right3Center2Last UpdatedBias Distribution38% Left, 37% Right
Bias Distribution
- 38% of the sources lean Left, 37% of the sources lean Right
38% Left
L 38%
C 25%
R 37%
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