LONDON: The World Health Organization (WHO) has revoked the United Kingdom’s measles-free country status following a significant increase in measles cases in England.
According to sources, the decision was taken after a surge in measles infections during 2024, which also resulted in the death of a child.
The UK was first declared measles-free in 2017. However, this marks the second time the country has lost this status since then.
WHO officials grant the “measles-free” designation only to countries where cases are extremely rare, imported from abroad, and swiftly contained.
Measles is a highly contagious viral disease that spreads rapidly through breathing, coughing, or sneezing by an infected person.
In England, unusually large measles outbreaks were recorded earlier in 2023, 2024, and 2025, raising serious public health concerns.
