More than 60 children in north London’s Enfield have been infected by a measles outbreak. Cases were reported in seven schools and a nursery, with some children needing hospital care, the Sunday Times says. Officials say the outbreak is linked to low MMR vaccination rates in London. For each infected person, measles can spread to up to 18 unvaccinated people. Dudu Sher-Arami, Enfield’s public health director, told the Sunday Times the outbreak threatens the whole city. She warned of a “much greater and bigger pan-London outbreak” because people travel widely across London. Sher-Arami said, "London has one of the lowest, if not the lowest, vaccination uptake rates" in the UK. She added, "It is possible for it to grow. We know that measles has got some very nasty complications. It can cause deafness. It can cause brain damage and one in five children can need hospital treatment." To fight this, temporary vaccination clinics are running in schools and around Enfield, where over 20% of children aren’t vaccinated against measles, mumps or rubella by age five. The government plans a new campaign to promote childhood vaccinations, using social media, YouTube, and radio ads to address vaccine doubts. The NHS states measles starts like a cold, then a rash appears, sometimes with mouth spots. Last month, the World Health Organization said the UK lost its measles elimination status in 2024 after cases surged again. In 2024, 3,681 measles cases were reported in the UK. Between 2021 and 2023, measles had been eliminated. WHO says 95% of children need the vaccine for herd immunity. UK Health Security Agency data shows only 91.9% of five-year-olds received one MMR dose in 2024-25, the lowest since 2010-11. Just 83.7% received both doses, the lowest since 2009-10.