Research and analysis

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

Updated 30 May 2024

Applies to England

Update on England measles epidemiology

Since 1 October 2023, there have been 1,666 laboratory confirmed measles cases reported (Figure 1,2) in England, an increase of 96 cases since the last published report on 23 May 2024. The following number of cases have been reported:

• 17 cases were reported in October
• 43 in November
• 158 in December
• 276 in January
• 277 in February
• 331 in March
• 365 in April
• 199 so far in May

37% (615 of 1,666) of these cases have been in the West Midlands, 32% (525 of 1,666) in London, and 9% (158 of 1,666) in the East Midlands. The majority (1,045 of 1,666, 63%) of these cases are in children aged 10 years and younger and 30% (508 of 1,666) in young people and adults aged 15 years and over (Table 1).

In the 4 weeks since 29 April 2024, there have been 217 confirmed cases. London accounted for the majority of these (39%, 85 of 217). 13% (28 of 217) of cases have been in the West Midlands, 12% (27 of 217) in the North East, 9% (20 of 217) in the East Midlands, and 8% (18 of 217) in the East of England. 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 27 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 27 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 27 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	11	69	11	9	6	3	83	8	207
1 to 4 years	43	24	151	15	20	8	6	164	26	457
5 to 10 years	55	22	124	18	5	3	4	135	15	381
11 to 14 years	17	2	18	6	5	2	0	60	3	113
15 to 24 years	19	4	63	3	9	6	5	78	8	195
25 to 34 years	9	5	50	9	13	9	6	53	10	164
35 years and over	8	6	50	9	16	5	3	42	10	149
Total	158	74	525	71	77	39	27	615	80	1,666

[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