England is experiencing its biggest measles outbreak in a decade, amid rising numbers of cases in the West Midlands

The number of measles cases has risen to the highest level in more than a decade, official figures show.

The latest data from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) shows that a further 118 people contracted the virus in England alone in the past week – half as many as in the entire month of January.

This brings the total number of confirmed cases to 465 – more than the last major outbreak in 2013 – amid fears that efforts to contain the disease will not work.

Health officials said the West Midlands remains at the heart of the outbreak, with most cases in the Birmingham area, while cases in London are also rising.

Dr. Vanessa Saliba, consultant epidemiologist at the UKHSA, said it “remains a concern” and urged parents to ensure their children are fully protected.

The graph shows the number of cases recorded per month in 2023 for England (orange line) and London (black line)

Cold symptoms, such as fever, coughing and a runny or stuffy nose, are usually the first sign of measles. A few days later, some people develop small white spots on the inside of their cheeks and the back of their lips. The characteristic rash of measles also develops, usually starting on the face and behind the ears, before spreading to the rest of the body.

She said: ‘Measles is highly contagious and there is a real risk that the disease will spread to other areas.

‘Parents should be aware that measles is a nasty disease for most children and can unfortunately be very serious and life-changing for some, but it is completely preventable.

‘Vaccination is the best way to protect yourself and your children. I strongly urge parents to take up the offer as soon as possible and protect their child now.”

The latest increase in weekly cases puts the number of confirmed cases well above the level of July 2013 – the last significant outbreak – when around 300 were recorded.

The majority (66 percent) of cases occurred in children under the age of 10, and a quarter (25 percent) in adolescents and adults over the age of 15, health officials said.

Almost three quarters (71 per cent) have been to the West Midlands, 13 per cent to the capital and 7 per cent to Yorkshire and the Humber.

The uptake of the Falling Mazles Mumps Rubella (MMR) vaccine has been blamed for leaving one in 10 children attending school in England unprotected.

Dr. Michael Head, Senior Research Fellow in Global Health, University of Southampton said outbreaks will continue unless vaccination rates improve.

In England, 89.3 percent of two-year-olds received their first dose of the MMR vaccine in the year to March 2023 (blue line), compared to 89.2 percent the year before. Meanwhile, 88.7 percent of two-year-olds had both doses, up from 89 percent a year earlier

He said: ‘Measles is more contagious than even the more recent variants of COVID-19, and it is possible for transmission to occur up to four days before symptoms appear.

‘With vaccine coverage of around 75 per cent in parts of the West Midlands, there are more than enough susceptible people who could become infected and continue the chain of transmission. These recently documented increases are therefore unfortunately to be expected.

‘The recent reporting and the launch of catch-up vaccination campaigns will hopefully ensure that the outbreak will quickly be brought under control. However, we cannot rule out a further increase in the number of reported cases in the short term, and the healthcare system will continue to feel the pressure of this outbreak for some time to come.”

It comes weeks after the UK’s Health Security Agency declared a ‘national incident’ and called for action amid a worrying rise in cases.

On Wednesday, Irish health officials revealed that a man in his late 40s had died after contracting measles following a trip to Birmingham.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has announced an ‘alarming’ 45-fold increase on the continent, with international travel threatening to fuel the spread.

The NHS has launched a catch-up jab programme, leaving more than 3.4 million children under the age of 16 unprotected.