Following a recent epidemic, the areas of England with the highest number of measles cases have been disclosed.
Children and adults from all around the country have been infected with the highly contagious sickness, which can lead to serious complications if left untreated.
Leicester has become the latest city to announce an increase in cases, with a school youngster and a university student infected.
Measles can cause serious health problems including as pneumonia, encephalitis, and, in rare cases, long-term impairment or death.
Symptoms include a blotchy red-brown rash, high fever, and sore red watery eyes; it is especially easy to get in places where people are in close contact.
According to the most recent official data, 149 laboratory confirmed measles cases have been reported in England this year.
London is the worst-affected region, with 89 instances reported between January and September.
58 of them have impacted children aged 14 and under, including 16 babies, 17 children aged one to four, and 18 children aged 11 to 14.
The south east is the second most contaminated area by measles, with 14 confirmed cases in 2023, with more than half recorded in children under the age of 10.
Measles cases in England – area by area
Take a look at the number of measles cases recorded in each region of England – and how many cases have been detected in each age range.
The number of cases for each age range is shown in brackets – if an age range does not appear, it means zero infections have been recorded for that demographic.
- London – 89 cases: Aged less than 1 (16), 1-4 (17), 5-10 (18), 11-14 (7), 15-19 (8), 20-24 (1), 25-29 (9), 30-34 (4), 35+ (9)
- South East – 14 cases: Aged less than 1 (2), 1-4 (4), 5-10 (3), 15-19 (1), 20-24 (1), 25-29 (1), 35+ (2)
- Yorkshire – 11 cases: Aged less than 1 (2), 5-10 (2), 15-19 (1), 20-24 (1), 25-29 (1), 30-34 (2), 35+ (2)
- East of England – 9 cases: Aged 1-4 (3), 5-10 (2), 11-14 (1), 25-29 (2), 35+ (1)
- South West – 8 cases: Aged less than 1 (1), 1-4 (1), 5-10 (1), 11-14 (1), 15-19 (2), 25-29 (1), 35+ (1)
- North West – 7 cases: Aged 1-4 (5), 5-10 (2)
- North East – 4 cases: Aged 1-4 (1), 5-10 (1), 35+ (2)
- East Midlands – 4 cases: Aged less than 1 (1), 11-14 (1), 15-19 (1), 20-24 (1)
- West Midlands – 3 cases: Aged 1-4 (1), 5-10 (2)
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said: ‘Around 1 in 5 of the cases were imported, possible imports or import related, while the rest reflect community transmission in England.’
Leicester’s director of public health, Rob Howard, has urged parents to make sure their children have had MMR jabs.
‘The best way to protect yourself and your family is to have the MMR vaccination,’ he said.
‘Anyone who hasn’t already had two doses should contact their GP surgery for an appointment to get vaccinated.’