Scotland Sees Rise in Measles Cases: Why it’s back and what we can do about it
Measles is making a dangerous comeback in Scotland, with rising cases linked to falling vaccination rates and international travel. Why is it resurging now and what can communities like Govanhill do to stop the spread?
Adult patient receiving a vaccination by @cdc
By Rabia | Feature photo by @cdc
After decades of progress, Scotland is witnessing a concerning resurgence of measles, a disease once nearly eradicated through effective vaccination programs.
Already in 2025, over 25 cases have been confirmed across the country, including several in Glasgow and three here in Govanhill. Health experts warn that unless vaccination rates improve, these numbers could continue to rise.
What is measles – and why is it serious?
Measles is not just a highly infectious childhood rash, but the most infectious of all diseases transmitted through the respiratory route. It causes fever, cough and a distinctive rash, and can also lead to severe illness, causing pneumonia and encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) – particularly in immune-compromised individuals. It is also more severe in pregnancy, increasing the risk of miscarriage, stillbirth, or preterm delivery.
Measles is not just a childhood inconvenience. Before vaccines were introduced, measles caused significant childhood illness and death across Scotland. Tragically, at least one child death related to measles infection has already been reported in the UK this year – in Liverpool this July.
What’s happening now?
In 2024, Scotland reported 24 laboratory-confirmed measles cases, a stark increase from just one case in each of the previous two years. Alarmingly, by early July 2025, 27 cases have already been confirmed, suggesting an accelerating trend.
According to Public Health Scotland, these cases were mostly in people who were unvaccinated or under-vaccinated. Some were linked to international travel – including visits to Dubai, India, Morocco and Vietnam – but many spread locally, especially in under-immunised communities.
Fourteen of those infected were completely unvaccinated, and only two had received both recommended doses of the MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine.
What’s the immunisation picture like generally?
As a public health measure, immunisations are very effective in reducing infection and the associated burden of disease. Following the introduction of the measles vaccine in 1968 and the introduction of the MMR vaccine in 1988, infections in Scotland decreased dramatically.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends that to achieve herd immunity nationally, at least 95 percent of children must be immunised against diseases preventable by immunisation.
Herd immunity means enough people are vaccinated to stop a disease from spreading, even to those who can't be vaccinated themselves, like babies or people with weakened immune systems. When herd immunity breaks down – even slightly – contagious diseases like measles can quickly return.
Public Health Scotland (PHS) reports that as of March 2025, while uptake of childhood vaccines by 12 months of age remains robust, a gradual decline is evident over recent years. For example, first-dose MMR coverage by 24 months was 92.4 percent, with second-dose uptake by age 5 at 90 percent; these figures are slightly below the World Health Organisation's 95 percent target.
At a national level, Scotland is close – but not quite there. In some communities, uptake is far below target.
What’s happening in Govanhill?
Govanhill is one of the most diverse neighbourhoods in Scotland, and reflects many of the challenges – and strengths – of multicultural public health work. But some of the communities in Govanhill experience lower vaccine uptake due to language barriers, health system access, and broader social inequalities.
Data from Public Health Scotland shows wide variation in vaccine uptake between ethnic groups. Here are the MMR first-dose uptake rates by 12 months of age in in 2024–2025.
Many of these groups are part of Govanhill’s local population – and the gaps in coverage reflect wider challenges in public health access and trust.
Why are some people not getting vaccinated?
Research shows that vaccine hesitancy and low uptake are rarely about a simple refusal. The Covid-19 pandemic appears to have profoundly influenced public health behaviours, including attitudes toward routine immunisations.
One of the consistently lowest uptake rates across all ages for childhood immunisations is the Polish community – the largest white minority ethnic group in Scotland, making up 1.7 percent of the population according to the 2022 census.
A University of Glasgow-led study on vaccine attitudes in Scotland’s Polish community to the Covid-19 vaccine found that over a third reported hesitancy or refusal due to a range of barriers including mistrust in healthcare systems, fears over vaccine safety, lack of GP registration, language barriers, misinformation, and employment insecurity all contributed to lower uptake.
These same issues play out in different marginalised communities that make up Govanhill’s diverse population. For a disease like measles there can also be a factor where people have moved here as an adult from countries without such comprehensive vaccination programmes, and may not know it's available.
Tackling hesitancy in these groups through culturally and linguistically tailored public health interventions is crucial for improving immunisation rates and public health outcomes more broadly. The Glasgow health board told us how they are working with community organisations in the area to try and reach different communities.
What’s the picture internationally?
This crisis is of particular concern when travelling internationally. Globally, there were 107,500 deaths caused by measles in 2023 – mostly in children under five. In the USA, a major public health crisis is unfolding with 760 cases this year in Texas alone.
In 2024, a total of 35 212 measles cases were reported across the EU/EEA – ten times the amount of the previous year. Countries with the highest reported measles rates during this period were Romania (631.9 cases per million), Austria (59.5), Belgium (45.2), Ireland (39.7), and Cyprus (29.3).
What is being done to prevent the spread?
The MMR vaccine protects against measles with the first dose offered to children between 12-13 months, and the second at the age of 3 years. If it’s missed at these times it can be given at any age.
Public Health Scotland is collaborating with local health boards to implement targeted outreach programs, including mobile clinics and multilingual educational campaigns. These initiatives aim to improve access and rebuild trust within communities. These efforts are especially focused in areas like Govanhill, where population diversity and health inequalities intersect.
What can you do?
If you’re unsure about your or your child’s vaccination status, check with your GP or Health Visitor. If you’ve missed a dose – even years ago – it’s not too late. You can still catch up. Vaccines are free and available to all, regardless of immigration status or GP registration.
For children aged between 12 months and six years, there is an ongoing pre-school drop-in clinic every Tuesday at: Govanhill Clinic, Sandyford Building Calder Street. Clinic times are 9-10:45am, 11:20-1:05pm and 2-3:30pm.
For adults there is an on-going every Tuesday evening from 5-7:30pm in Govanhill Health Centre, also on Calder Street until 23 September. There are also drop-ins there on Saturday 23 August and 20 September.
Before travelling abroad, it’s especially important to make sure you’re protected. Measles cases are on the rise again across Europe, and travellers can bring it home unknowingly.
Measles is a notifiable disease under the Public Health Scotland (2008) Act. All suspected cases of measles should be notified to the local health protection team as soon as measles is suspected. Infected people will already have been infectious for a few days before the onset of their rash.
A community-wide effort
Helen Benson, NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde consultant in public health warns that, while Scotland and Greater Glasgow & Clyde have strong MMR uptake through the childhood vaccination programme, “we cannot be complacent.” Govanhill, she says, “is one of the areas where uptake is lower, although case numbers are low, there is a risk of community spread, especially with increased overseas travel during the holiday season.”
The resurgence of measles in Scotland serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of declining vaccination rates. By taking proactive measures we can work together towards reversing the current trend and preventing future outbreaks.
Ajutați la Prevenirea Răspândirii Rujeolei
Cazurile de Rujeolă în Scoția au crescut. Pentru a preveni răspândirea acestei boli, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde încurajează orice persoană care nu a fost vaccinată cu ROR să facă acest lucru.
Pentru copiii cu vârsta cuprinsă între 12 luni și șase ani, există și o clinică preșcolară deschisă în fiecare Marți. la: Clinica Govanhill Sandyford Building, Calder Street, G42 7PE. Orele de consultație sunt 9-10.45, 11.20-13.05 și 14.00-15.30.
Pomôžte zabrániť šíreniu osýpok
Prípady osýpok v Škótsku narastajú. Aby sa zabránilo šíreniu tohto ochorenia, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde vyzýva každého, kto neabsolvoval očkovanie MMR, aby tak urobil.
Pre deti vo veku od 12 mesiacov do šiestich rokov prebieha aj pravidelná predškolská očkovacia klinika bez objednania každý utorok v: Govanhill Clinic Sandyford Building, Calder Street, G42 7PE Otváracie hodiny kliniky sú od 9-10:45, od 11:20-13:05 a od 14:00-15:30.
Further information can be found at: nhsinform.scot/campaigns/mmr-against-measles