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Authorities in north London have issued warnings to parents regarding a recent measles outbreak, emphasizing that children who are not fully vaccinated against the disease might be excluded from school. Enfield Council communicated in a letter to families late last month that unvaccinated students who have close contact with confirmed measles cases could face a 21-day exclusion period following national health guidelines.
A local health official expressed concern to the BBC about the situation, noting, “We are worried because actually, this is a significantly increased number than what we’re used to.” The strategy of excluding unvaccinated children who have been exposed to measles during outbreaks is a common public health measure aimed at controlling the spread. A GP clinic in the area confirmed that infections have been identified in at least seven schools across Enfield and neighboring Haringey. While outbreaks of this scale have occurred periodically since late 2023, the current number of cases is higher than previous instances.
Dr Jo Sauvage, Chief Medical Officer of the North Central London Integrated Care Board, shared further details during an interview on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme. She acknowledged that “outbreaks did happen in pockets across the country” but added, “Certainly in our area we’ve not seen an increase in number of this degree before.” To date, about 60 suspected measles cases have been confirmed, predominantly within educational settings, with some affected children requiring hospitalization—particularly those who have not been immunized. Dr Sauvage emphasized ongoing efforts to contain the infection and enhance public awareness.
The UK recently lost its World Health Organization status for measles elimination, a development attributed to the confirmation of over 2,900 measles cases in England in 2024—the highest figure in more than ten years—and nearly 1,000 cases in 2025. Speaking from her experience, local GP Dr Ellie Cannon remarked that this outbreak likely represents the first time she has encountered measles in her two decades of practice. She stressed the need for improved vaccination rates among children, saying, “We’ve definitely got an issue with children being vaccinated and it certainly needs to improve as we’ve seen with this outbreak.” In light of the situation, parents have been urged to verify the vaccination status of both their children and themselves to help curb the disease, which can lead to severe and potentially life-threatening complications.
Vaccination coverage in Enfield remains notably low, with only 64.3% of five-year-olds having received both doses of the MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccine during 2024/25—among the lowest in the country and well below the 95% threshold needed to prevent outbreaks. National coverage also declined to 84.4% in that period, down from 88.8% a decade earlier. Both Dr Sauvage and Dr Cannon cited several factors behind this drop, including difficulties securing appointments, low awareness of vaccination programs, and concerns regarding vaccine safety. Dr Sauvage highlighted the importance of addressing parental apprehensions directly, reassuring them that “the vaccine… is safe.” Dr Cannon pointed out that many individuals classified as vaccine hesitant are neither outright refusers nor conspiracy theorists but rather concerned parents needing more information.
Measles is a highly infectious illness transmitted through coughs, sneezes, or contact with contaminated surfaces. Typical symptoms include a high fever, sore and watery eyes, coughing, and sneezing. White spots may develop inside the mouth, followed by a red or brown blotchy rash that usually starts behind the ears and on the face before spreading. It is noted that the rash may be more difficult to observe on darker skin tones
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