Glastonbury Festival Goers Warned of Deadly Measles Virus
As the Glastonbury Festival approaches, with over 200,000 attendees expected to descend on Worthy Farm, health experts have issued a warning to festival-goers to check their vaccination status against the potentially deadly measles virus. According to the Daily Mail, a surge in measles cases has been reported in some parts of England, with cases approaching those seen in the whole of 2024, which was the worst outbreak in over a decade.
The measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine offers up to 99% protection against the illnesses, which can lead to deadly meningitis, hearing loss, and problems during pregnancy. However, without it, just one measles infectious person in a crowd can spread the world’s most contagious virus to 9 out of 10 unvaccinated people nearby. Dr. Simon Clarke, an infectious disease expert at the University of Reading, told the Daily Mail, "Glastonbury could be a superspreader event. Many attendees had likely grown up when a—now thoroughly debunked—study in the late 90s falsely linked the MMR jab to autism and subsequently scared many parents from getting children the vaccine."
Professor Lawrence Young, a virologist at Warwick University, also warned that Glastonbury had the potential to drive Britain’s ongoing measles outbreak even higher. "Given the currently high numbers of measles cases in the UK, particularly in South West and London, and reduced uptake of the MMR vaccine, gatherings at festivals like Glastonbury are a perfect place for measles to spread," he said. Measles patients are also infectious four days before tell-tale symptoms like a rash appears, meaning seemingly well people can silently spread the disease to others.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has also issued a warning, with Dr. Alasdair Wood, a consultant in Health Protection at UKHSA South West, stating, "Measles is circulating across the country, and festivals are the perfect place for measles to spread. If you’re not fully vaccinated against measles, mumps and rubella, please contact your GP to see if you can get an appointment before coming to the festival." The Daily Mail reports that since the start of the year, 420 cases of the virus have been recorded in England, though officials say this is likely an underestimate due to delays with reporting.
The majority of recorded cases (two-thirds) have been in children under 10—the majority of which were unvaccinated. Nationally, around one in five children in England are estimated to have missed out on their MMR jabs, but this rises to just over one in four in some areas. The vaccine, which offers life-long protection, consists of two doses, the first normally given when a child turns one and then again at three years and four months. However, it can be given to a patient at any age.
Professor Stephen Griffin, an infectious disease expert at the University of Leeds, warned that people should not underestimate the virus, stating, "The high infectivity of measles means we need to maintain vaccine coverage at around 92-95% to prevent outbreaks. We are well below that now." He also warned that measles can lead to pneumonia, encephalitis, and other complications, and in unvaccinated people, it can also cause a lethal progressive disease in the brain many years after initial infection, known as sub-acute sclerosing pan encephalitis.
In conclusion, festival-goers are urged to check their vaccination status and get vaccinated if necessary to prevent the spread of measles. The Daily Mail reports that UKHSA estimates the measles vaccine has prevented 20 million cases and 4,500 deaths in the UK since it was originally rolled out in 1968. With the risk of measles spreading at Glastonbury, it is essential for attendees to take precautions and ensure they are protected against this deadly virus.
