THIS map reveals the areas most vulnerable to measles outbreaks as parents are urged to get kids vaccinated.
The locations in England that are at most risk of a measles outbreak have been revealed in The Sun's map as cases continue to rise.
Health chiefs have issued a warning after it was found that 15 per cent of children aged five have not had their measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) jabs.
Yesterday, the UK Health Security Agency(UKHSA) confirmed that 49 cases of measles has been detected so far this year – which almost matches the number of total cases in 2022.
Official data revealed that over a quarter of children in London are missing their MMR vaccines and are urging parents of un-jabbed kids to book an appointment to lower the risk of outbreaks.
The main symptoms of measles are a fever and a rash, but it can cause more serious complications including meningitis, and an infection can be fatal.
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The map shows the terrifying reality of the percentage of unprotected five-year-olds in England with only 85 per cent of them vaccinated.
The North East of England took the lead with 91.3 per cent of jabbed five-year-olds.
In second place is the South West with 90.7 per cent and in third is the East of England with 88.5 per cent.
Next is the South East with 97.6 per cent and Yorks and Humber with 87.5 per cent.
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In the East Midlands 86.6 per cent of five-year-olds are protected and in the North West 86.4 per cent are jabbed too.
Then the numbers begin to dwindle as the West Midlands have only 84.5 per cent protected, and in last place is London with only 74.1 per cent of protected five-year-olds.
On top of this shocking figure, London was also the worst hit by measles outbreaks this year with 33 cases.
Hackney performed the lowest out of all the authorities in London with only 55.2 per cent of five-year-olds protected against measles.
Following Hackney, the second lowest performer for the second MMR dose was Camden with only 63.2 per cent of five-year-olds vaccinated.
This was followed by Islington (64.5 per cent), Kensington and Chelsea (64.6 per cent) and Enfield (65.3 per cent).
The MMR vaccine has been rolled out since the eighties and is delivered as two doses to kids – one around the first birthday and one just after they turn three.
Dr Vanessa Saliba, consultant epidemiologist at UKHSA, said: "It is very concerning to see cases starting to pick up this year.
"We are calling on all parents and guardians to make sure their children are up to date with their two MMR doses. It's never too late to catch up, and you can get the MMR vaccine for free on the NHS whatever your age."
She also warned that although measles can be relatively mild, it can also pose a risk of being fatal.
"Measles spreads very easily and can lead to complications that require a stay in hospital and on rare occasions can cause lifelong disability or death, so it is very concerning to see cases starting to pick up this year," she said.
What are the symptoms of Measles?
Measles is one of the world’s most infectious viruses and spreads by coughs, sneezes and close physical contact.
A high temperature, runny or blocked nose, sneezing, coughing and red, sore and watery eyes, are usually the first symptoms of a measles infection.
Shortly after, small white spots may appear inside the cheeks and on the back of the lips.
A blotchy rash then usually appears on the face and behind the ears before spreading to the rest of the body.
Symptoms usually improve within a few weeks and can be managed by drinking plenty of fluids and taking paracetamol or ibuprofen.
But if measles spread to the lungs or brain, it can cause pneumonia, meningitis, blindness and seizures.
According to experts, vaccination rates had been falling in the UK before Covid, but following the disruption caused by the pandemic more children have missed getting their crucial MMR jabs.
Prof Helen Bedford, from the Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, said: "We haven't seen much measles around for a few years, partly because of the public health measures introduced to prevent Covid – so it may be that people do not see measles as a continuing threat and vaccination has become less important.
"During the pandemic, some children missed out on their routine vaccines for a variety of reasons and need to catch up [and] there may be some vaccine hesitancy".
Nationally, 40 per cent of cases detected so far in 2023 are among children under five-years-old.
The UKHSA have now urged parents to get their kids vaccinated before the summer holidays as measles may be more common in foreign countries.
NHS vaccines director Steve Russell said: “It’s clear that when vaccine uptake falls, infections rise, so I strongly urge parents to review the status of their child’s vaccinations.”
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Parents can check their children's MMR vaccination records by checking their Red Book.
So far this year the West Midlands and Yorkshire and the Humber are only regions to have been spared any measles.
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