Cases of Victorian-era disease surge in England as 'vital protection' plea issued

Cases of measles have surged in England, a comparison of week-on-week figures show. The Victorian-era disease, which is highly contagious, has made a reappearance in the UK in recent years.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) confirmed that Measles activity had increased since January 2026, mostly driven by outbreaks in North London and Birmingham.

It said between January 1 and March 9 this year, there had been 235 laboratory confirmed measles cases reported in England.

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