Great Britain is no longer classified as measles-free by the World Health Authority. For two years the United Kingdom was able to maintain its elimination status.
01/27/2026, 06:2901/27/2026, 06:29
The country has lost the relevant status assigned by the World Health Authority (WHO) due to the spread of the highly contagious viral disease in 2024, several British media outlets reported, citing the WHO and the British health authority. A stagnation in the vaccination rate also plays a role.
A child suffering from measles. (symbol image)Image: shutterstock.com
“Persistent gaps in immunity” would have led to a “resurgence of measles” and other diseases in several countries in 2024 that could have been prevented through vaccinations, the WHO said at the request of the German news agency DPA.
No local transmission in the meantime
From 2021 to 2023, measles was reported to have been eliminated in the UK. This status means, among other things, that there is no sustained local transmission of the disease for a certain period of time. According to PA, 3,681 cases of measles were recorded in Great Britain in 2024. The WHO’s decision can therefore also be attributed to the vaccination rate being too low, below the threshold of 95 percent necessary for herd immunity, which is recommended by the authority.
Measles is one of the most contagious infectious diseases. If an infection occurs, fever, sensitivity to light and inflammation of the mucous membrane in the mouth usually first appear, followed by a skin rash. Most cases heal without lasting effects, but there is a risk of brain, lung and middle ear infections, which can cause permanent damage and, in extreme cases, death. (sda/dpa)