The United Kingdom has officially lost its measles elimination status, the World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed this week, following evidence of sustained transmission of the highly contagious disease. The announcement marks a significant setback in the country’s public health efforts, highlighting rising infection rates and declining vaccination coverage.
Measles elimination is achieved when a country reports no endemic transmission for at least 12 consecutive months. In the UK, confirmed measles cases surged in 2024, reaching the highest annual total in over a decade. The continued circulation of the virus means the nation no longer meets the WHO’s criteria for elimination.
Health authorities have attributed the resurgence largely to declining vaccination rates. WHO guidelines recommend that at least 95 per cent of children receive two doses of the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine to achieve herd immunity.
Recent data indicate that coverage in several regions has fallen below this threshold, leaving gaps in protection. Experts point to multiple factors behind the drop in immunisation, including limited access to routine healthcare, increasing vaccine hesitancy, and the spread of misinformation on social media. These challenges have hindered efforts to maintain high coverage and protect vulnerable populations.
The UK is not alone in this reversal. Across the WHO European Region, countries including Spain, Austria, Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Uzbekistan have also experienced outbreaks that have undermined previous progress. WHO has urged governments to take urgent action to close immunity gaps and strengthen vaccination programmes.
In response, UK health authorities are intensifying campaigns to ensure children receive both MMR doses and are expanding outreach to those who missed earlier vaccinations. Officials stressed that measles is highly preventable, warning that restoring elimination status will require consistent and widespread vaccine uptake. Public health experts say the development serves as a reminder of the critical role of vaccination in controlling preventable diseases and safeguarding communities against outbreaks.
