London sits at the heart of England’s current measles crisis – with infections soaring across multiple boroughs where children remain unvaccinated. A new map shows how many cases there are in each London borough – see how yours compares.
There have been 674 laboratory-confirmed measles cases in England since January 1. This includes a further 145 infections since the previous measles update at the beginning of July.
Across England, the bulk of cases have occurred in children under 10 years old, with the capital fuelling the recent spike. Startlingly, nearly half of all confirmed infections were in London (48 per cent).
During recent weeks, fresh cases have been detected in Barnet, Croydon, Camden, Islington, Harrow, Haringey, Hackney and Newham. Hackney sits at the epicentre of the current outbreak.
The borough has recorded 79 cases so far – exceeding any other local authority area in England. This figure encompasses 33 fresh infections since the previous update.
The UKHSA is now pressing parents to make vaccine catch-up appointments a priority throughout the school summer break. Hackney also has the nation’s lowest vaccination rate, with merely three in five youngsters having received both MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) doses by their fifth birthday (60.8 per cent).
Yet whilst Hackney records the poorest vaccination figures, not a single local authority in England has achieved the target of immunising 95 per cent of children.
The World Health Organization (WHO) maintains this benchmark is crucial for establishing “herd immunity,” which prevents diseases spreading throughout communities.
Confirmed cases in London, 2025
- Hackney: 79
- Newham: 25
- Croydon: 22
- Haringey: 21
- Camden: 19
- Waltham Forest: 18
- Harrow: 18
- Lewisham: 17
- Barnet: 12
- Islington: 11
In 19 London boroughs, the MMR vaccination rate has slipped below 75 per cent. The vaccination rate in Newham, the London borough with the next highest number of cases (25), is just 67.7 per cent.
In Croydon, which has 22 confirmed cases, the vaccination rate is 68.1 per cent, and in Haringey (21 measles infections), it is 64.5 per cent.
Dr Vanessa Saliba, Consultant Epidemiologist with the UKHSA, has urged parents to use the summer months as an opportunity to ensure their children’s vaccinations are up to date. She said: “The summer months offer parents an important opportunity to ensure their children’s vaccinations are up to date, giving them the best possible protection when the new school term begins. It is never too late to catch up. Do not put it off and regret it later.”
She added: “Measles spreads very easily and can be a nasty disease, leading to complications like ear and chest infections and inflammation of the brain with some children tragically ending up in hospital and suffering life-long consequences. Two doses of the MMR vaccine is the best way to protect yourself and your family from measles. Babies under the age of 1 and some people who have weakened immune systems cannot have the vaccine and are at risk of more serious complications if they get measles. They rely on the rest of us getting the vaccine to protect them.”
Adding to this, Dr Amanda Doyle, National Director for Primary Care and Community Services at NHS England, said: “Vaccination is the best protection against measles, which is highly contagious and can cause serious health problems. The MMR vaccine is provided free by the NHS and I would urge all parents to check their child’s vaccination records before the new school year or summer travel, particularly as Europe is reporting the highest number of measles cases in 25 years.”
She added: “While the NHS delivered tens of thousands of additional MMR vaccinations last year, too many eligible children remain unvaccinated, and we are working with local authorities and the UK Health Security Agency to reach more youngsters, with enhanced vaccination offers in areas with higher cases, including vaccination buses and community catch-up sessions.”
When should children be vaccinated?
The first MMR jab is offered to infants when they turn one year old and the second dose to pre-school children around three years and four months old. Approximately 99 per cent of those who have two doses will be protected against measles and rubella.
While mumps protection is slightly lower, cases in vaccinated individuals are much less severe. Anyone, regardless of age, who has not had two doses can contact their GP surgery to book an appointment.
It’s never too late to catch up. For more information on measles, mumps and rubella visit the UKHSA site here.
Looking for more from MyLondon? Subscribe to our daily newsletters here for the latest and greatest updates from across London.
