Measles on the rise in London

London is experiencing a rise in the rate of measles, it has emerged.

New data from the Health Protection Agency shows that the capital saw 721 confirmed cases in 2008, up from just 424 the previous year, according to the BBC.

In addition, the number of suspected cases also grew from 1,216 to 1,697 over the same period.

The rise appears to be attributable to the low uptake of the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine over the course of the last ten years.

Dr Mary Ramsay, an immunisation expert at the HPA, said: "There is now a real risk of a large measles epidemic and these children are susceptible to not only measles but to mumps and rubella as well."

London falls behind the national average vaccination rate of 83 per cent, with approximately 70 per cent of children having received the jab.

The NHS estimates that around 90 per cent of all children need to be vaccinated to prevent the spread of the disease.