Research and analysis

National Measles Standard Incident - measles epidemiology (from October 2023)

Updated 16 May 2024

Applies to England

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Update on England measles epidemiology

Since 1 October 2023, there have been 1,458 laboratory confirmed measles cases reported (Figure 1,2) in England, an increase of 84 new cases since the last published report on 9 May 2024. The following number of cases have been reported:

  • 17 in October
  • 43 in November
  • 158 in December
  • 276 in January
  • 276 in February
  • 317 in March
  • 316 in April
  • 55 so far in May

41% (594 of 1,458) of these cases have been in the West Midlands, 29% (424 of 1,458) in London, and 9% (137 of 1,458) in the East Midlands. The majority (929 of 1,458, 63.7%) of these cases are in children aged 10 years and younger and 29.4% (428 of 1,458) in young people and adults aged 15 years and over (Table 1).

In the 4 weeks since 15 April 2024, there have been 195 newly confirmed cases. London accounted for the majority of these (37.9%, 74 of 195). 19.0% (37 of 195) of cases have been in the West Midlands, 14.9% (29 of 195) in the North East regions. During this period, all regions have had confirmed cases.

The rapid increase in cases seen in late 2023 was initially driven by a large outbreak in Birmingham but activity there has now stabilised and in more recent weeks we have seen a rise in cases in London and smaller clusters ongoing in other regions.

Data included in this report are provisional and subject to change as:

  • more suspected cases undergo confirmatory testing
  • some locally tested cases are discarded after obtaining further epidemiological information or undergoing confirmatory testing at the reference laboratory

Figure 1. Laboratory confirmed cases of measles by month of onset of rash or symptoms reported, London and England: 1 May 2012 to 13 May 2024 [note 1 and 2]

Figure 2. Laboratory confirmed cases of measles by week of onset of rash or symptoms reported, London, West Midlands and England: 1 October 2023 to 13 May 2024 [note 1 and 2]

[note 1] Cases confirmed through either local or reference laboratory testing.

[note 2] Data are provisional and subject to change as:

  • more suspected cases undergo confirmatory testing
  • some locally tested cases are discarded after confirmatory testing at the reference laboratory

The data reporting lag has greatest impact on the most recent 4 weeks which are therefore represented by dotted lines.

Table 1. Laboratory confirmed cases of measles by age group and region in England: 1 October 2023 to 13 May 2024 [note 3]

Age group East Midlands East of England London North East North West South East South West West Midlands Yorkshire and Humber England
Under 1 year 7 10 57 8 7 6 3 83 7 188
1 to 4 years 36 18 128 13 17 6 6 162 26 412
5 to 10 years 52 18 92 16 6 2 3 126 14 329
11 to 14 years 16 0 14 6 5 1 0 56 3 101
15 to 24 years 15 2 50 1 7 2 5 74 8 164
25 to 34 years 4 3 41 6 12 7 5 52 9 139
35 years and over 7 5 42 6 12 3 0 41 9 125
Total 137 56 424 56 66 27 22 594 76 1,458

[note 3] Data are provisional and subject to change as:

  • more suspected cases undergo confirmatory testing
  • some locally tested cases are discarded after obtaining further epidemiological information or undergoing confirmatory testing at the reference laboratory
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