Parents are being asked to check children are fully up to date with their MMR vaccinations by checking their vaccine record in their Red Book as data published today by UKHSA shows there has been a rise in measles cases.
Between 1 January and 20 April this year, there have been 49 cases of measles compared to 54 cases in the whole of 2022. Most of the cases have been in London although there have been cases picked up across the country, including six laboratory confirmed cases in the South West. Some cases are linked to travel abroad.
Professor Dominic Mellon, Deputy Director for UKHSA, 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.
In recent years the number of children vaccinated against measles, mumps and rubella has fallen. Uptake for the first dose of the MMR vaccine in 2-year-olds in the South West is 93.2%, and uptake of two MMR doses at 5 years is 90.6%, below the 95% target set by the World Health Organization (WHO) which is necessary to achieve and maintain elimination.
During the COVID-19 pandemic uptake for routine childhood immunisations has fallen globally leaving many children unprotected from serious infections and countries at increased risk of outbreaks. Measles is now circulating in many countries around the world and the WHO has warned that Europe is likely to see a resurgence unless countries catch-up children who missed out.
Children are offered the first dose of the MMR vaccine which protects against measles, when they turn 1 and the second dose at 3 years and 4 months. The UKHSA is urging parents of young children, teenagers and adults to check that they are up to date with their MMR vaccines, particularly before they travel this summer and before attending summer festivals where measles can spread more easily.
Healthcare professionals have been alerted to the recent rise in cases and asked to be vigilant to further cases whilst also working with communities to increase vaccination uptake.
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.
What is measles?
Measles is an infectious disease caused by a virus, and it’s known as being quite unpleasant and severe.
“It used to be a common illness, especially in children, until the introduction of the measles vaccine, given as part of the MMR vaccine in infancy,” says Shepherd.
“However, the MMR vaccine uptake reduced following the flawed research of the discredited Dr Andrew Wakefield [who proposed a link between the MMR jab and autism and bowel disease], and so we’ve seen increasing cases of measles in the UK, and more especially across Europe in recent years.”
Parents should be particularly wary of measles notes Shepherd, as it can lead to “serious complications” in childhood, including meningitis and pneumonia, sometimes with fatal consequences.
How do you catch measles?
Much like the common cold, measles is easily spread via tiny droplets that come out of the nose and mouth. “It’s usually transmitted from person to person by coughing, sneezing, or direct contact with body secretions,” says Shepherd.
You can catch measles by breathing in these droplets, or touching a surface that the droplets have settled on and then placing your hands near your nose or mouth, as the virus can survive on surfaces for a few hours.
What are the obvious signs and symptoms?
If you’ve been around someone with measles, you might not know if you’ve caught the virus until two weeks later. “Symptoms will usually start to develop in a person who has been exposed to and infected by the virus after between 10-14 days,” says Shepherd.
“Early signs are fever, cough, cold symptoms and sore eyes due to conjunctivitis. You will often, at this stage, find spots inside the cheeks which are a white or grey colour, known as ‘Koplik’s spots’,” he explains.
Measles produces a characteristic red rash (Thinkstock/PA)
After a few days, the characteristic measles rash appears. “Look out for a bright red rash, starting on the head and neck before spreading to the rest of the body.”
Shepherd notes that the rash is often itchy and, after about four days, the colour of the rash turns a more dark red or brown colour.
How is it treated?
There are several things you can do to help relieve the unpleasant symptoms of measles, and reduce the risk of spreading the infection.
“The usual first aid measures will apply, giving paracetamol or ibuprofen to relieve aches and pains and help lower temperature. It is also important to stay well hydrated by drinking plenty of water,” says Shepherd.
It can also be helpful to close any curtains to reduce light sensitivity while you’re getting over the worst of it.
Most cases of measles will settle on their own over about 10-14 days, and once you have had measles, your body builds up resistance to the virus, so it’s highly unlikely you’ll get it again.
That said, you should contact your GP as soon as possible, if you suspect that you or your child may have measles. “As a result of catching measles, complications due to bacterial infection may arise, such as middle ear infection, pneumonia and meningitis.
“It is also very important that medical advice is sought quickly if there are any signs of complications arising,” warns Shepherd. “Worrying features would include difficulty breathing, chest pain, coughing up blood, drowsiness, confusion or fits.
“In this situation, antibiotics will often be needed to treat the complicating bacterial infection and, in severe cases, hospitalisation is required.”
What can you do to prevent catching measles?
Measles can be prevented by having the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine. This is given in two doses, as part of the NHS childhood vaccination programme in the UK.
The first dose is given when your child is around 13 months old, and a second dose is given at three years and four months – but you could still get vaccinated later, if the childhood MMR is missed.
“The measles vaccine should have been given during childhood as part of MMR but the vaccine can be given at any age, if it has been missed,” say Shepherd, who stresses that having an extra vaccination will not cause any harm.
“Vaccination against measles is vital, both to protect an individual person and also to develop a high level of immunity in the population, in order to prevent the virus spreading.
“There’s also an injection that can be given in special circumstances called Human Normal Immunoglobulin, which is a concentration of antibodies against the measles virus,” he adds. “This may be given within six days of known exposure to the measles virus to babies under six months, unvaccinated pregnant women, or people with weakened immune systems.”
If you already have measles, then the best thing to do is wait out the unpleasant symptoms, and stay away from others where possible. “You should avoid work or school for at least four days after the rash appears,” says Shepherd, “so you can avoid passing it on to others.”
