Key Summary
- Between 1 January and 17 August 2026, England recorded 970 laboratory-confirmed cases of measles.
- London has seen the highest concentration of the outbreak, accounting for 51% of all cases, followed by the West Midlands at 16%.
- Three measles-related deaths have been reported so far in 2026, including two children and one adult with an underlying immunological condition.
This year’s laboratory-confirmed measles cases in England have surpassed the total number of infections recorded in all of 2025, according to the latest epidemiological data.
Between 1 January and 17 August 2026, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) reported 970 confirmed cases, surpassing last year's total of 960.
While this remains below the recent peak of 2,911 cases in 2024, activity levels remain a significant public health concern.
The data shows that measles activity began to rise in February 2026, reaching a peak of 215 cases in May before a decline in the subsequent months.
Despite the downward trend, three measles-related deaths have been recorded this year: an acute death in a child, a death in a child due to the late effects of the disease, and a death in an adult with an underlying immunological problem.
Children remain the most affected demographic, with 61% (591 out of 970) of all infections occurring in those aged 10 years and under. Young people and adults aged 15 and over accounted for 33% (320 cases) of the national total.
Regionally, London has borne the brunt of the outbreak, recording 496 cases, which represents 51% of the national total. The West Midlands reported 153 cases (16%), and the North West recorded 99 cases (10%).
At the upper tier local authority (UTLA) level, Enfield has seen the highest incidence with 111 cases, followed by Birmingham with 81 cases, and Hertfordshire with 63 cases. Other heavily impacted areas include Haringey and Islington, which recorded 55 and 53 cases respectively.
Recent activity shows 18 confirmed cases in the four weeks since 20 July 2026.
However, the UKHSA noted that data reporting lags disproportionately affect the most recent four weeks, meaning these latest figures are likely to underestimate current transmission levels.
