Measles is back: Here's everything you need to know

The UK Health Security Agency has confirmed a large measles outbreak, mostly affecting unvaccinated children under the age of 10. Reports show multiple schools and nurseries have been impacted, and some children have become very unwell, needing hospital treatment.  This reminds us that measles is not a mild childhood illness. It is highly infectious and potentially serious. But fortunately, entirely preventable.

Here, our GP Dr Vicky Carre discusses the current outbreak in more detail, explains the risks, and outlines what parents need to know to keep their children safe.

As a GP, there are some illnesses that up until now my generation of doctors have fortunately rarely seen. Measles is one of them. However, we are currently facing a significant measles outbreak in north-east London, with schools and nurseries in Enfield and neighbouring areas affected.

What exactly is measles?

Measles is a viral infection that spreads through coughing, sneezing and close contact. It is one of the most contagious viruses we know - if one person has measles, up to 9 out of 10 unprotected people around them will quickly catch it. The virus can linger in the air for up to two hours after an infected person has left a room which is why outbreaks spread so quickly in places like schools and nurseries.

Symptoms parents should look out for

Measles usually starts like a bad cold, which is why it can be missed early on. Symptoms typically appear 7–14 days after exposure and include:

• High fever

• Runny or blocked nose

• Cough

• Red, sore, watery eyes

• Tiredness and irritability

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After a few days, a distinctive rash appears. It usually:

• Starts on the face or behind the ears

• Spreads down the body

• Looks red or brown and blotchy

• Can merge together rather than appearing as separate spots

  
  

Some children also develop small white spots inside the mouth (Koplik spots), which doctors recognise as a classic sign of measles.

How serious is measles?

For many children, measles causes a miserable illness lasting a couple of weeks. But for some, it can be devastating.

Complications include:

• Ear infections, leading to hearing loss

• Chest infections and pneumonia

• Seizures (fits)

• Brain inflammation (encephalitis), which can cause permanent disability

• Death, especially in babies and immunocompromised children

  
  

Around 1 in 5 children with measles need hospital care, and about 1 in 15 develop these serious complications. There is no specific antiviral treatment effective against measles and so doctors can only provide supportive care: managing fever and pain, preventing dehydration and treating complications as they arise. This is why prevention is so important.

The current outbreak – and why it’s happening

The UK was once considered to have eliminated measles. That status has now been lost because vaccination rates have fallen too low.

In Enfield, just 64% of five-year-olds have received both recommended doses of the MMR vaccine, far below the 95% coverage needed to prevent outbreaks. This leaves not only unvaccinated children at risk, but also babies too young to be vaccinated and children with medical conditions who rely on others for protection.

The UK Health Security Agency and NHS are working closely with local councils and schools to control the outbreak, but vaccination remains the single most effective tool we have. Considering the children who were ill enough to be hospitalised in the current outbreak, none of them had been properly immunised, showing how much protection the vaccine provides.

MMR / MMRV vaccines

The MMR vaccine (measles, mumps, and rubella) has been used safely for decades and does not cause autism - a myth thoroughly disproven by extensive studies. Two doses of vaccine provide 99% protection against measles, long-lasting immunity, and protection for the child and for vulnerable people around them.

Since the start of this year, the MMR vaccine is superseded by MMRV – which immunises against varicella (chickenpox), as well as measles, mumps and rubella. The timing has also now changed with children offered MMRV at 12 and 18 months of age. The MMR second dose was previously offered as a “pre-school booster” at 3 years and 4 months of age, but this has been brought forward to provide earlier full protection. Note that children aged 18 months to 3 years 4 months on 1 January 2026 will remain on the previous schedule but with their second dose at 3 years 4 months being the MMRV.

If your child has missed one or both doses, it is never too late to catch up and now is a good time to make sure everyone is properly protected. If you are unsure about your child’s immunisation status, contact your GP surgery - we can check records and arrange any missing vaccinations.  And have a chat with your GP, health visitor, school nurse or practice nurse if you are worried about any aspect of vaccination.

By vaccinating your child, you protect your own family, babies too young to be vaccinated, children with immune problems, and your wider community.