Surge in measles cases prompts UK to declare national health incident

Parents advised to check vaccination status of children, with full uptake of MMR jab down to average of 85%

Further outbreaks of measles could spread across Britain, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has warned, after declaring a national incident amid a surge in cases and low vaccine uptake.

Recent figures from the agency revealed a surge in measles cases, with uptake of the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine at its lowest level in more than a decade and “well under” the recommended coverage, the UKHSA chief executive, Dame Jenny Harries, has said.