Eleven Measles Cases Confirmed in Haringey Amid North London Outbreak 2026

Key Points

• Eleven measles cases have been confirmed in Haringey as part of a broader North London outbreak.
• More than 60 suspected cases reported across North London, with low vaccination rates blamed for the virus’s spread.
• Outbreak originated in Enfield last month and continues to expand to areas including Haringey.
• North Central London Integrated Care Board (NCL ICB) confirmed on Tuesday 17th that infections at local hospitals are increasing.
• NCL ICB oversees NHS services in Barnet, Enfield, Haringey, Camden, and Islington.
• Dr Jo Sauvage, NCL ICB’s chief medical officer, stated the outbreak mainly affects children in schools and nurseries.
• Most severe cases requiring hospital treatment are linked to unvaccinated patients.
• Reports by Joe Ives, Local Democracy Reporter, highlight over 60 cases in North London.

Haringey, North London (North London News) February 18, 2026 – Eleven cases of measles have been confirmed in Haringey as a growing outbreak sweeps North London, with more than 60 suspected infections reported region-wide and low vaccination rates cited as the primary driver of the virus’s spread, according to Joe Ives, Local Democracy Reporter.

The outbreak, which began in Enfield last month, has now reached multiple boroughs under the oversight of the North Central London Integrated Care Board (NCL ICB). Today, Tuesday 17th, the NCL ICB confirmed that the number of infections reported at local hospitals continues to rise. This health board coordinates NHS services across Barnet, Enfield, Haringey, Camden, and Islington, placing these areas at the epicentre of the crisis.

Dr Jo Sauvage, the ICB’s chief medical officer, emphasised that the measles outbreak is primarily affecting children in schools and nurseries. She noted that the most severe cases, which require hospital treatment, are predominantly linked to unvaccinated patients. As reported by Joe Ives, Local Democracy Reporter, these developments underscore the urgent need for vaccination drives in communities with low uptake rates.

What Triggered the Measles Outbreak in North London?

The outbreak’s origins trace back to Enfield last month, where initial cases were detected among under-vaccinated populations. Joe Ives, Local Democracy Reporter, reports that more than 60 suspected cases have now been documented across North London, signalling a rapid escalation. The NCL ICB’s update on Tuesday 17th marks a stark increase in hospital-reported infections, prompting heightened vigilance across the region.

Low vaccination rates have been repeatedly identified as the key factor fuelling the spread.

Dr Jo Sauvage, the ICB’s chief medical officer, stated explicitly that unvaccinated children in schools and nurseries form the bulk of those affected. Her comments, as covered by Joe Ives, highlight how gaps in the MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) immunisation programme have left vulnerable groups exposed.

Public health officials have linked the surge to longstanding challenges in achieving herd immunity thresholds, typically around 95% vaccination coverage. In Haringey specifically, the confirmation of eleven cases represents a significant local milestone, intensifying calls for immediate action.

Which Areas Are Most Affected by the Outbreak?

Haringey has emerged as a hotspot with eleven confirmed measles cases, as per the latest NCL ICB confirmation. The outbreak, starting in Enfield last month, has spilled over into neighbouring boroughs including Barnet, Camden, and Islington, all under the NCL ICB’s purview.

Joe Ives, Local Democracy Reporter, details that more than 60 suspected cases have been reported region-wide in North London.

The NCL ICB, responsible for coordinating NHS services in these five boroughs – Barnet, Enfield, Haringey, Camden, and Islington – reported on Tuesday 17th that hospital admissions for measles are climbing steadily.

Dr Jo Sauvage, the ICB’s chief medical officer, pointed out that infections are concentrating in educational settings. Schools and nurseries in these areas have become transmission hubs, particularly for unvaccinated children facing the gravest risks.

Who Is Most at Risk from Measles in This Outbreak?

Children attending schools and nurseries bear the brunt of the outbreak, according to Dr Jo Sauvage, the NCL ICB’s chief medical officer. She specified that the virus is mainly affecting young people in these environments, with unvaccinated individuals experiencing the most severe symptoms.

As reported by Joe Ives, Local Democracy Reporter, hospital data confirms that the worst cases necessitating treatment stem from those without vaccination protection.

This aligns with measles’s highly contagious nature, which thrives in low-immunisation pockets across North London.

Infants too young for vaccination and those with medical exemptions also face elevated dangers, though the NCL ICB’s focus remains on school-aged children. The Tuesday 17th update from the board underscores the disproportionate impact on these demographics.

What Is the Role of the North Central London ICB?

The North Central London Integrated Care Board (NCL ICB) plays a pivotal coordinating role, managing NHS services across Barnet, Enfield, Haringey, Camden, and Islington. On Tuesday 17th, it confirmed the ongoing rise in measles infections reported at local hospitals.

Dr Jo Sauvage, the ICB’s chief medical officer, has been vocal about the outbreak’s patterns, noting its concentration among unvaccinated children in schools and nurseries.

Her leadership is central to the response, as covered extensively by Joe Ives, Local Democracy Reporter.

The ICB’s responsibilities include surging resources to affected hospitals and bolstering vaccination clinics. More than 60 suspected cases across North London fall under its monitoring, with Haringey’s eleven confirmations highlighting the board’s frontline position.

Why Are Low Vaccination Rates Blamed for the Spread?

Low vaccination rates are squarely blamed for the virus’s proliferation, as articulated in reports by Joe Ives, Local Democracy Reporter. The outbreak’s spread from Enfield last month to over 60 suspected cases region-wide exemplifies how insufficient MMR uptake undermines community protection.

Dr Jo Sauvage, the ICB’s chief medical officer, linked severe hospital cases directly to unvaccinated patients, primarily children in schools and nurseries. The NCL ICB’s Tuesday 17th statement reinforces this, amid confirmations of eleven cases in Haringey.

Historical data shows North London boroughs like Enfield and Haringey lagging in vaccination targets, fostering outbreaks. Public health campaigns now stress MMR’s two-dose efficacy, yet hesitancy persists in certain communities.

How Severe Are the Confirmed Cases in Haringey?

Eleven measles cases stand confirmed in Haringey, contributing to the North London tally exceeding 60 suspected infections. The NCL ICB reported on Tuesday 17th that local hospital figures are increasing, with severity tied to vaccination status.

Dr Jo Sauvage, the ICB’s chief medical officer, observed that the most serious instances requiring hospitalisation involve unvaccinated patients. Joe Ives, Local Democracy Reporter, relays these details, noting the outbreak’s origins in Enfield last month.

Measles complications can include pneumonia and encephalitis, particularly in vulnerable children. Haringey’s cases signal a critical phase, prompting enhanced NHS readiness.

What Measures Are Being Taken to Contain the Outbreak?

The NCL ICB is ramping up efforts, as confirmed in its Tuesday 17th update on rising hospital infections. Dr Jo Sauvage, the ICB’s chief medical officer, advocates urgent vaccinations, targeting schools and nurseries where cases cluster.

Reports by Joe Ives, Local Democracy Reporter, indicate pop-up clinics and awareness drives across Barnet, Enfield, Haringey, Camden, and Islington. Contact tracing and isolation protocols are standard for the over 60 suspected cases.

Health authorities urge parents to verify children’s MMR status, aiming to close immunity gaps blamed for the spread from Enfield last month.

When Did the Outbreak Begin and How Has It Evolved?

The outbreak ignited in Enfield last month, evolving into more than 60 suspected cases across North London. Haringey’s eleven confirmations mark its latest expansion, per Joe Ives, Local Democracy Reporter.

The NCL ICB’s Tuesday 17th announcement details surging hospital reports across its boroughs: Barnet, Enfield, Haringey, Camden, and Islington. Dr Jo Sauvage, the ICB’s chief medical officer, charts its path among unvaccinated schoolchildren.

Evolution reflects vaccination shortfalls, with severity escalating in untreated cases.

What Do Experts Say About Preventing Further Spread?

Dr Jo Sauvage, the NCL ICB’s chief medical officer, stresses vaccination as the bulwark, stating the outbreak mainly hits unvaccinated children in schools and nurseries. Her views, as reported by Joe Ives, Local Democracy Reporter, pinpoint low rates as the culprit.

The MMR vaccine offers robust defence post-exposure within 72 hours. NCL ICB coordinates outreach in its five boroughs, countering over 60 cases from Enfield’s start last month.

Community education combats myths, vital for herd immunity restoration.

Impact on Schools and Nurseries in North London?

Schools and nurseries are epicentres, per Dr Jo Sauvage, the ICB’s chief medical officer. Children here face primary exposure, with unvaccinated pupils driving hospital cases.

Joe Ives, Local Democracy Reporter, covers disruptions in Haringey and beyond, amid eleven local confirmations and 60+ region-wide. NCL ICB’s Tuesday 17th alert spans Barnet to Islington.

Outbreaks may trigger closures, underscoring vaccination imperatives.