NewsUK NewsMeaslesThere have been 883 confirmed measles cases reported in England this year, according to the UK Health Security Agency11:06, 09 Jul 2026Updated 11:40, 09 Jul 2026An adult has died of measles, health officials have confirmed, amid a rise in cases across the UK.‌Health authorities said an adult with an “underlying immunological problem” has died of the disease. The news comes after two children in England died from measles in June.‌There have been 883 confirmed measles cases reported in England from the start of the year to July 6 according to figures released by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA).‌All regions of England have reported cases, with more than half (52%) in London, 17% in the West Midlands and 10% in the North West, the UKHSA said. The “majority” of cases were in children aged 10 and under, the government body said.It comes after NHS leaders launched a catch-up campaign aimed at parents of children aged two to 11 who have missed out on the MMR vaccine which protects against measles, mumps and rubella. The jab now also protects against chicken pox and is known as the MMR/V vaccine.Health officials are aiming to contact around a million families of children who have missed one or both doses of the vaccine. Figures for the first three months of the year show that 84.1% of five-year-olds had received both doses of the MMR vaccine.‌GPs will contact parents of children under the age of six. Those with children aged six to 11 will be contacted through the NHS app, text, email or letter.Earlier this year, the World Health Organisation said the UK was no longer considered to have eliminated measles. The announcement in January followed a plateau in vaccination coverage and a surge in cases.Measles is spread through the air or water droplets, breathed, coughed or sneezed by infected people. As well as death, in rare cases it can lead to blindness, deafness and brain problems. Sufferers are infectious from the first symptoms until four days after the rash appears.‌Earlier this year there were growing concerns about low vaccination rates and children who had not had the measles, mumps and rubella jab could be sent home from school in an outbreak.The World Health Organisation has said measles, considered eliminated in the UK from 2021-23, was re-established here from 2024 as vaccine coverage fell below the 95% required to achieve herd immunity.Symptoms of measlesMeasles usually starts with cold-like symptoms, according to NHS guidance, followed by a rash a few days later. Some people may also get small spots in their mouth.‌The first stages of measles include cold-like symptomsa high temperaturea runny or blocked nosesneezinga coughred, sore, watery eyesA few days later small white spots may start to appear inside the cheeks and on the back of the lips.Article continues belowThen, a few days after the cold-like symptoms, a rash will start to appear on the face and behind the ears before spreading to the rest of the body.Choose Daily Mirror as a 'Preferred Source' on Google News for quick access to the news you value.‌NHSWorld Health OrganisationMMR vaccineRubellaMumpsMeaslesBreaking News