Parents are being urged to check for key symptoms of measles amid fears of a summer surge of outbreaks.
The UK Health Security Agency is calling on parents to check their children are up to date with their MMR vaccinations after detecting 49 cases between January and April. This compares to 54 cases in the whole of 2022.
Measles is a highly infectious disease that can lead to serious problems such as pneumonia, meningitis, and on rare occasions, long-term disability or death. Symptoms include a high fever, sore red watery eyes and a blotchy red brown rash.
Vaccination rates in England have dropped and are now well short of the 95 per cent population coverage the World Health Organisation says is needed to eliminate outbreaks.
Children are offered the first dose of the MMR vaccine which protects against measles, mumps and rubella when they turn 1 and the second dose at 3 years and 4 months.
NHS England director of vaccinations Steve Russell, said: “The NHS has an inspiring history of successful vaccination programmes that have proven time and time again they are the best tool in our arsenal against the spread of highly infectious diseases and since vaccination for measles cases was introduced, over 4,500 lives have been saved.
“The MMR vaccine has helped prevent the development of potentially life-threatening illness among millions, and it is clear that when uptake falls, infections rise, so I strongly urge parents to review the status of their child’s vaccinations so they can keep them and others protected from measles, mumps and rubella."
Four key symptoms to look out for
- cold-like symptoms, such as a runny nose, sneezing, and a cough
- sore, red eyes that may be sensitive to light
- a high temperature (fever), which may reach around 40C (104F)
- small greyish-white spots on the inside of the cheeks
The UKHSA says if anyone has missed one or both doses of the MMR vaccine, contact your GP practice to book an appointment.
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.
