Measles cases confirmed in South West, as vaccination rates fall
Parents are urged to get their children up to date with the MMR jabs
Parents in the South West are being asked to check children are fully up to date with their MMR vaccinations.
It comes at the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) says there's been a rise in measles cases this year.
Six have been recorded in the South West between the 1st of January and the 20th April 2023.
That's part of 49 cases across the UK, and compares to 54 instances in the whole of 2022.
Uptake of MMR vaccinations, which protects against measles as well as mumps and rubella, has fallen in recent years.
93.2% of 2 year olds in the South West have had the first dose, while 90.6% of five year olds have had two doses.
The World Health Organization target for vaccine uptake is 95%, but the South West is doing better than the national average.
Professor Dominic Mellon, Deputy Director for UKHSA South West, said:
“Measles is not ‘just a harmless childhood illness’. It 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 increasing. During the COVID-19 pandemic we saw a fall in uptake for the routine childhood vaccinations, including MMR which leaves us vulnerable to outbreaks, especially as people start to travel abroad for summer holidays to places where measles is more common.
“Vaccines are our best line of defence against diseases like measles, mumps and rubella and help stop outbreaks occurring in the community. That is why we’re asking all parents and guardians to make sure their children are up to date with their two MMR doses. The vaccines are free on the NHS whatever your age. If anyone has missed one or both doses of the MMR vaccine, contact your GP practice to book an appointment. It is never too late to catch up.”
Symptoms of measles include a high fever, sore red watery eyes and a blotchy red brown rash, and it is particularly easy to catch in environments when in close contact with others.
Measles is a highly infectious viral illness, so anyone with symptoms is advised to stay at home and phone their GP or NHS 111 for advice, before visiting the surgery or A&E, to prevent the illness spreading further.