Stay up to date with notifications from The IndependentNotifications can be managed in browser preferences.Jump to contentThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged inAllNewsSportCultureLifestyleHealth officials have confirmed the tragic deaths of two children in England this year due to measles, with one fatality attributed to "acute measles" and the other to its "late effects", as the highly contagious disease continues to circulate. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) reported 736 measles cases so far this year, with many infections concentrated in outbreaks across London and the West Midlands, primarily affecting unvaccinated children aged 10 and under. Earlier this year, the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared that the UK is no longer considered to have eliminated measles, underscoring the resurgence of the disease. Health secretary James Murray and Dr Vanessa Saliba from UKHSA stressed that measles is not a harmless childhood illness, being highly contagious and capable of causing very serious complications, including brain swelling, blindness, and even death. The signs and symptoms of measles usually start 7–14 days after exposure to the virus, and include rash, fever, a runny nose, cough and conjunctivitis.In fullTwo children die from measles as highly contagious virus spreads throughout UKThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in

The UKHSA said it 'continues to circulate'

Stay up to date with notifications from The IndependentNotifications can be managed in browser preferences.Jump to contentThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or…

London, the east of England and the West Midlands have highest number of cases, as UKHSA urges families to get children vaccinated

It is understood it is the first time two children have died from measles in a single year in England and Wales since 2018 - with a further 106 laboratory confirmed cases in the…

As it emerges that two children have died in measles outbreaks so far this year, mum Catherine Cooper has shared her experiences of caring for her baby through measles, and the…

The health authorities confirms 92 deaths from the disease since Mar 15