Parents have been urged by a council to get their children vaccinated against measles after a “significant” outbreak.
One in 10 children in Hertfordshire were at risk of catching the virus as they were not up to date with their MMR vaccine, according to Hertfordshire County Council.
Sarah Perman, the authority’s director of public health, said the low uptake rates were a concern due to the area’s close proximity to Enfield, north London, where an outbreak has been affecting several nurseries and schools.
“Measles is a nasty illness. Sadly, some children who catch [it] can develop serious complications. Our vaccination rates are still not as high as they should be,” Perman said.
The measles vaccine is routinely offered to children as two doses, the first is given at 12 months and the second at 18 months.
In Hertfordshire, 93.6% of children aged five have had one dose and 87.7% have had two doses.
In Enfield only 64.3% of children have had both doses.
Measles is a contagious disease that is spread by coughs and sneezes or contaminated surfaces [Getty Images]
Measles is a highly contagious disease that is spread through coughs and sneezes and contaminated surfaces.
Common symptoms include:
Sore, red and watery eyes
Small white spots appearing inside the mouth
A blotchy red or brown rash usually appears after a few days, typically behind the ears and on the face, before spreading.
The rash may be harder to detect on brown and black skin, NHS England said.
Perman has encouraged parents and carers to check their children were fully up to date with their measles vaccine, as coverage needs to be 95% of the eligible population to stop the virus from spreading.
“One in five children end up needing hospital treatment and occasionally measles can be fatal.
“If you find that your child has missed a dose, please contact your GP practice to make an appointment.”
The UK recently lost its World Health Organization measles elimination status after more than 2,900 cases of measles were confirmed in England in 2024, the highest level for more than a decade.
There were nearly 1,000 cases in 2025.
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