London: Two children have died from measles in England this year, marking a concerning development as more than 100 new cases have been reported in the past two weeks, health officials announced on Thursday.

According to Anadolu Agency, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) reported that one child succumbed to 'acute measles' while another died due to the 'late effects of measles.' The disease continues to circulate in many parts of the country, with the highest number of cases in the past month recorded in London, the East of England, and the West Midlands.

Since the last update two weeks ago, 106 additional laboratory-confirmed cases have emerged, raising the total number of confirmed cases from January 1 to June 8 to 736. This figure is approaching the 959 cases reported during the entirety of 2025. The majority of infections this year have occurred among unvaccinated children aged 10 and under, as highlighted by UKHSA.

Health Secretary James Murray emphasized the severity of the situation, stating, "Measles can lead to serious complications that can be fatal, and the MMR vaccine, which has saved countless lives, remains the best protection we have against this highly infectious disease." Dr. Vanessa Saliba, a consultant epidemiologist at UKHSA, expressed condolences to the affected families and underscored the importance of vaccinations, stating, "Measles continues to circulate in many parts of the country and, as we have seen, it can be very serious and even fatal."

Dr. Saliba urged all parents to ensure their children are up-to-date with their MMR or MMRV vaccines to provide the safest protection against measles, which spreads easily. She also encouraged those who missed their measles vaccinations to catch up through their GP practice, regardless of age.