The UKHSA said the outbreak was mostly affecting unvaccinated children under 10 in schools and nurseries with some being hospitalised.

Enfield Council's cabinet member for health and social care, Cllr Alev Cazimoglu, said: ‘We are following national public health guidance to manage the situation, protecting residents and limiting further spread.

‘The current outbreak has mainly affected children and some have required additional care with a short stay in hospital.'

Enfield Council and its health partners are asking residents to check whether they have had both doses of the vaccine known as MMRV or MMR.

Dr Vanessa Saliba, consultant epidemiologist at UKHSA: ‘Measles is a nasty illness for any child, but for some it can lead to long term complications and tragically death but is so easily preventable with two doses of the MMRV vaccine.'

UKHSA data shows London currently accounts for 63.5% of measles cases in England with over a quarter (26%) in the West Midlands.

North Central London ICB's chief medical officer, Dr Jo Sauvage, said: ‘We have more than 60 suspected measles cases linked to this outbreak in Enfield, mostly affecting children in schools and nurseries. Some have required hospital treatment — particularly those who were not fully immunised. We've been working together with Enfield Council and the UK Health Security Agency to control the spread with a system-wide response, including targeted outreach through schools, primary care, community services and local NHS Trusts.'

Sauvage said local MMR uptake of 65% was consistent with wider London but well below optimal levels, adding: ‘There's no single cause - population mobility, the impact of the pandemic, practical barriers to appointments and access to information all play a part.

‘Our priority now is to make vaccination as easy and accessible as possible, taking services directly into communities and providing clear, evidence-based information. Measles resurges when vaccination rates fall, but this is something we can turn around. The vaccine is safe and effective, and by boosting uptake quickly we can prevent further outbreaks.'