Risk of measles infection remains high in Oxfordshire
Parents are being urged to get their children vaccinated
The risk of infections from measles remains high across Oxfordshire with a number of cases reported by the Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire Integrated Care Board (BOB ICB).
The virus can spread easily, affecting the lungs and causing complications in some cases.
Despite the seriousness of the illness, vaccination rates have been falling - and it's feared outbreaks could spread quickly if that trend continues.
Health professionals are wanting to encourage individuals to vaccinate themselves and their children, as the MMR vaccine remains the most efficient way to prevent the spread.
Chief Nursing Officer at the BOB ICB, Rachael Corser, said: "The health concern continues to be in place and it's important to us particularly as we see the summer looming on us and when we know the local population want to mingle more."
"What we can do is to prevent the potential spread by vaccinating."
The number of reported cases of measles continues to increase across the UK, with a risk remaining high in the county.
Ms Corser said: "We are starting to see some cases across Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire, and this is why we are keen to see an increase in the numbers of uptakes of vaccines across our population."
"There is still a high risk of infection and a couple of months ago we didn't have any cases and we have now."
Coverage of the MMR started to decline following a 1998 report by Andrew Wakefield which falsely linked the jab with autism, according to a UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) 2023 measles briefing document.
Even though the claim was discredited, and Wakefield struck off the medical register, the vaccination programme took years to recover.
Now MMR vaccine coverage is the lowest it has been for more than a decade, with just 85% of youngsters having both doses of the jab before they start school aged five.
In some cases, measles can lead to serious health complications, with the MMR vaccine remaining the highest chance of preventing the spread of the virus.
Ms Corser said: "It can manifest in a number of ways, usually respiratory conditions that will become worse with the measles virus."
"We know this is the number one way we can prevent further spread."