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The UK is at risk of a ‘surge’ in measles cases in the coming months due to a decline in vaccine uptake, officials have warned.

Unvaccinated children are expected to pick up the virus on summer trips abroad, with a number of popular destinations having seen ‘large’ outbreaks this year, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said.

France, Italy, Spain and Germany are among those suffering such outbreaks in Europe, which reported 127,350 cases overall last year.

That figure was double the number of cases in 2023 and the highest recorded since 1997.

‘Measles cases are picking up again in England and outbreaks are happening in Europe and many countries with close links to the UK,’ Dr Vanessa Saliba, Consultant Epidemiologist at the UK Health Security Agency, said.

Nigeria, Pakistan, India, Romania and Thailand currently have among the highest number of measles cases in the world, according to the World Health Organisation.

The UKHSA said the resurgence of measles is a ‘global’ problem linked to ‘declines in MMR vaccine uptake observed over the last decade, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic’.

More than 17% of children in England have not had a two-dose MMR vaccine, which is needed for full protection.

That figure rises to nearly 28% in London, which has reported almost half of all cases in the past four weeks.

There have been 420 lab-confirmed cases in England so far this year, of which 109 were in April and 86 in May.

‘Cases have predominantly been in unvaccinated children aged 10 years and under,’ officials said, ‘but there are also cases being reported in young people and adults’.

After London, the biggest hotspots currently are the North West (25% of cases in the past four weeks) and the West Midlands (11%).

Children do not have full protection if they received their first dose after their first birthday but were not taken to get the second (given between three-and-a-half and five years old).

Full protection can be given at higher ages by taking two doses at least one month apart, the NHS says.

The most contagious virus known to humans, measles can rapidly trigger large outbreaks as each infected individual can transmit the disease to another 18 on average.

It typically causes cold-like symptoms at first before triggering a widespread, blotchy rash across the body.

In some cases it can suppress the immune system, making the patient vulnerable to other viruses like pneumonia, which can be deadly in children.

Dr Saliba continued: ‘It’s essential that everyone, particularly parents of young children, check all family members are up to date with 2 MMR doses, especially if you are travelling this summer for holidays or visiting family.

‘Measles spreads very easily and can be a nasty disease, leading to complications like ear and chest infections and inflammation of the brain with some children tragically ending up in hospital and suffering life-long consequences. Nobody wants this for their child and it’s not something you want to experience when away on holiday.

‘The MMR vaccine is the best way to protect yourself and your family from measles. Babies under the age of 1 and some people who have weakened immune systems can’t have the vaccine and are at risk of more serious complications if they get measles. They rely on the rest of us getting the vaccine to protect them.

‘It is never too late to catch up, if you’re not sure if any of your family are up to date, check their Red Book or contact your GP practice. Don’t put it off and regret it later.’

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

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United are determined to sign the Bees star.

Liverpool are closing in on a deal to sign Puskas Akademia goalkeeper Armin Pecsi, according to reports in Hungary.

The 20-year-old made his first-team breakthrough last year and this season he has established himself as Puskas Akademia’s first-choice goalkeeper with 36 appearances and 11 clean sheets in all competitions.

Pesci represents Hungary at Under-21 level and according to Nemzeti Sport, the goalkeeper left the team’s training camp this week in order to travel to England to finalise his move to Liverpool.

The report adds that the Premier League champions are in ‘advanced negotiations’ with Puskas Akademia and a deal could be announced as early as next week.

It’s understood that Puskas Akademia will receive a club-record fee for their highly rated goalkeeper.

Pesci could become the third Hungarian player in Arne Slot’s squad alongside Dominik Szoboszlai and Milos Kerkez, who Liverpool are in talks to sign from Bournemouth.

Last month, Pesci was named among the nominees for the Golden Boy award for the best Under-21 player in world football.

Pecsi was only one of three goalkeepers to make the top 100 shortlist alongside Toulouse’s Guillaume Restes and Mike Penders, who will join Chelsea this summer after his £17 million signing from Belgian side Genk last year.

Liverpool, meanwhile, will also sign Georgian goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili this summer after agreeing a £29m deal with Valencia last year.

The Premier League champions also remain in talks with Bayer Leverkusen over a deal to sign Florian Wirtz, who has rejected Bayern Munich and is intent on a move to Anfield this summer.

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It's not as good as everyone is saying. It's better.

The Egyptian destination was popular in the noughties.

Nintendo has issued a warning for online play in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate on the Switch 2, although there are some benefits to playing on the new console.

The iconic dating show is rumoured to be returning.

Red Bull have dropped a major hint as to who will step in if Max Verstappen is handed a one-race ban from Formula 1.

The four-time world champion is on the verge of suspension after deliberately crashing into George Russell during the final laps of last Sunday’s Spanish Grand Prix.

Following the shocking incident, which Verstappen has apologised for, the Dutchman had three penalty points added to his superlicence, bringing his tally to 11.

Should he receive one more at the next two grand prix in Canada and Austria he will be handed a one-race ban, which could spell the end of his championship chances.

As such, Red Bull need to prepare for the possibility of losing their star driver over the next month but Christian Horner is not short of options.

Who could replace Max Verstappen?

It is almost certain that Verstappen will be replaced by one of the drivers from Red Bull’s sister team Racing Bulls, namely Liam Lawson or Isack Hadjar.

Lawson started the season as Verstappen’s teammate but was controversially axed after just two races and replaced by Yuki Tsunoda, with the Kiwi struggling for performance ever since.

Rookie Hadjar meanwhile has been one of the standout drivers of 2025 and after nine races is ninth in the standings, with more points than Lawson and Tsunoda combined.

Whoever it may be, a brief promotion to Red Bull would of course leave a seat free at Racing Bulls, with reserve driver Ayumu Iwasa seemingly first choice to fill it, having driven Verstappen’s RB21 during practice for the Bahrain Grand Prix in April.

However, a report from The Race says that Red Bull have sent a request to the FIA for a superlicence exemption for 17-year-old academy star Arvid Lindblad, suggesting he is actually next in line.

Under the current rules, drivers must be 18 in order to acquire the superlicence needed to race in F1, with Lindblad not eligible until August.

But exceptions can be made for underage drivers if they are ‘judged to have recently and consistently demonstrated outstanding ability and maturity in single-seater formula car competition’.

A decision on the request is expected next week and if granted, it would allow Lindblad to make his F1 debut over the summer.

Who is Arvid Lindblad?

Born in Surrey to a Swedish father and a mother of Indian heritage, Arvid Lindblad began competitive karting aged seven and has enjoyed a meteoric rise over the past decade.

In 2024, he embarked on his maiden Formula 3 campaign with Prema Racing, the same team that helped Oscar Piastri and Charles Leclerc reach F1.

He impressively won four races en course to fourth in the championship and over the winter break he cruised to the title in the Formula Regional Oceania Championship.

This year, the teenager has made the step up to Formula 2 and has taken to it like a duck to water, with two wins in 11 races leaving him third in the standings.

Lindblad already has his sights on F1, telling the BBC last year: ‘I’d say I have two or three years now to make it and that’s my window. If I don’t make it now I won’t get another opportunity in Formula 1.

‘All I’m thinking about at the moment is Formula 1 and wanting to be a world champion. F1 is the pinnacle of motorsport and I haven’t seen anything else that I’ve been attracted to.’

How did Max Verstappen get his penalty points?

In Formula 1, drivers receive a one-race ban if they acquire 12 penalty points within the space of 12 months.

Thankfully for Verstappen, two of his 11 points will expire on June 30 but he’ll have to carefully navigate Canada and Austria before then.

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History will be made.