The UK could see an alarming rise in cases of encephalitis, a charity has warned.
Encephalitis International (EI) said that among the 3.4 million children in the UK who did not get vaccinated against measles, around 10,000 new cases of encephalitis could emerge.
Professor Tom Solomon, chairman of Neurology at the University of Liverpool and director of The Pandemic Institute, said that if more children are not vaccinated, the number of fatalities could reach at least 1,500, with thousands more suffering brain damage.
He said: “It is a tragedy that, in 2024, we have measles in the UK. Inevitably, there will be children who develop measles encephalitis and are at risk of death or brain damage.
“This disease is completely preventable by vaccination. We must do everything we can to get people vaccinated.”
In England and Wales, there were 1,603 suspected cases of measles in 2023, according to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), a sudden increase from the 735 cases in 2022 and 360 in 2021.
The most reported cases have been in the West Midlands, showing at least 133 cases since October 1.
Between January and October 2023, there were 167 confirmed deaths.
Last year, The Pogues frontman Shane MacGowan died at 65 following his health battle with viral encephalitis.
The Irish singer-songwriter's family said on November 30 that he died in St Vincent's Hospital in Dublin at 3am.
On a social media post, his wife of more than 35 years, Victoria Mary Clarke, and his father and sister, wrote: “It is with the deepest sorrow and heaviest of hearts that we announce the passing of Shane MacGowan. Shane died peacefully at 3am this morning (30 November, 2023) with his wife Victoria and family by his side. Prayers and the last rites were read which gave comfort to his family."
MacGowan was in intensive care for the past few months because of viral encephalitis. He was diagnosed with this last year.
But what is encephalitis and what are its symptoms?
What is encephalitis?
Encephalitis is, simply put, inflammation of the brain. It can be life-threatening and requires urgent treatment in hospital where sufferers may even experience comas.
Anyone can get the condition, though it mostly affects the elderly. Its causes are viral infections such as chicken pox and cold sores, the body's immune system mistakenly attacking brain tissue or bacterial and fungal infections. However, getting the condition from such infections tends to be extremely rare.
Treatment depends on the underlying cause, but according to the NHS, this can include:
- antiviral medicines
- steroid injections
- treatments to help control the immune system
- antibiotics or antifungal medicines
- painkillers to reduce discomfort or a high temperature
- medicine to control seizures or fits
- support with breathing, such as oxygen through a face mask or a breathing machine (ventilator)
Although it is not always possible to prevent the disease, vaccinations may help. They can include the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine; the Japanese encephalitis vaccine (recommended for travellers visiting at-risk areas, such as parts of Asia); and the rabies vaccination.
MacGowan, who remained in intensive care until his passing, was treated with breathing apparatus.
I just wanted to say a massive thanks to everyone who has been messaging me and @ShaneMacGowan and thank you 🙏 @spiderstacy and Terry Woods for coming to visit him ❤️love and prayers for everyone who is struggling right now ❤️hang in there! pic.twitter.com/9OrUdgPxEd
— @victoriamary (@Victoriamary) November 14, 2023
What are the symptoms?
Early symptoms include cases of flu, high temperatures and headaches.
The more severe symptoms that follow can show anywhere between hours to weeks later. They generally include:
- confusion or disorientation
- seizures or fits
- changes in personality and behaviour
- difficulty speaking
- weakness or loss of movement in some parts of the body
- loss of consciousness
- shingles spreading to the eye (experienced by MacGowan).
