Almost half of the 674 cases reported so far this year have been in London, according to the UK Health Security Agency – with the true number thought to be considerably higher since many cases are not recorded.
These case numbers are much higher than the long-term averages seen in recent years – a trend that is blamed on falling vaccination levels.
But as children come back to school, the UKHSA said it was concerned “that holiday travel and international visits to see family this summer could lead to rising measles cases in England when the new school term begins”.
Cases in the Canadian province of Alberta are so high that health officials are calling for a public health emergency to be declared.
“The summer months offer parents an important opportunity to ensure their children’s vaccinations are up to date, giving them the best possible protection when the new school term begins. It is never too late to catch up. Don’t put it off and regret it later,” said UKHSA consultant epidemiologist Dr Vanessa Saliba.
“The MMR vaccine is provided free by the NHS and I would urge all parents to check their child’s vaccination records before the new school year or summer travel.”
Data from NHS England covering 2023/24 shows uptake well below the critical 95 per cent target needed to ensure diseases cannot spread among youngsters – with every percentage point below that further increasing the risk of the virus spreading.
Uptake of the first MMR dose at 24 months stood at 88.9 per cent in 2023/24 – again, the lowest since 2009/10.
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Most measles cases are among unvaccinated children, although there have been some cases among unvaccinated young people and adults. The cumulative effect of this reduced level of vaccinations is now feeding through into increased infection rates.
The NHS warns measles can lead to serious problems if it spreads to other parts of the body, such as the lungs or brain. These include pneumonia, meningitis, blindness, and seizures.
These problems are rare, but some people are more at risk. This includes babies and people with weakened immune systems.
“Things are likely to get worse before they get better, with a concern being that we will see many more measles cases, and even some more child deaths, before society is reminded how dangerous this disease can be – and how preventable it is with vaccines.”
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