Latest Measles Statistics Published - 29 February 2024

The latest number of laboratory confirmed measles cases in England have been published in an updated epidemiological overview by UKHSA.

Since the last update a week ago, a further 69 laboratory confirmed measles cases have been confirmed in England. This brings the total number of cases confirmed since 1 October 2023 to 650.

Although the outbreak in the West Midlands initially drove the increase in cases, clusters of cases in other regions such as the North West have continued to increase in the past week.

In the 4 weeks since 29 January 2024, there have been 183 laboratory confirmed measles cases. The West Midlands accounted for the majority of these (43%, 79 of 183), mostly in Birmingham, although case numbers in that region have now stabilized at a high level.

19% (34 of 183) of cases have been in the North West, 14% (26 of 183) in London, 10% in the East Midlands (18 of 183) and 8% (15 of 183) in Yorkshire and the Humber.

Since 1 October in England there have been 650 laboratory confirmed measles cases, 17 cases were reported in October, 42 in November, 158 in December 2023, 268 in January and 165 so far in February 2024. 63% (410 of 650) of these cases have been in the West Midlands, 15% (95 of 650) in London and 7% (46 of 650) in Yorkshire and The Humber. The remaining cases were reported in other regions of England.

The majority (423 of 650, 65%) of these cases were in children under the age of 10 and 27% (178 of 650) in young people and adults over the age of 15.

The data published in this epidemiological overview covers the period between 1 October 2023 and 26 February 2024 and is currently provisional, with the number of cases for the most recent months likely to increase as more suspected cases undergo confirmatory testing.

This data release coincides with the launch of UKHSA’s Childhood Immunisations national marketing campaign.

Epidemiological updates will be continue to be published every Thursday.