Measles: We have forgotten how dangerous it is says expert
A new city has been added to the measles hotspots across England amid recent outbreaks of the infection.
Leicester became the latest place to confirm a surge in measles case rates, after a school pupil and a university student contracted the Victorian disease.
While vaccines provide effective protection against measles, experts have warned of low uptake of the MMR jab.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, less children got their necessary vaccinations, leaving the country vulnerable to outbreaks.
In fact, the proportion of five-year-old children who had had their first and second jab was the lowest it’s been in a decade.
READ MORE Unjabbed children could face isolation as cases of contagious disease rise
Worryingly, measles can lead to the development of complications like pneumonia, swelling of the brain, or even long-term disability on rare occasions.
Following the two recent cases in Leicester, the county’s director of public health has urged parents to make sure their children are up to date with their MMR jabs.
Rob Howard said: “We have recently had two confirmed cases of measles in the city; one case is a university student, and the other is a school student. Neither have had the Measles, Mumps and Rubella vaccine known as MMR.
“Measles is a very infectious virus and spreads very easily. People who catch measles usually recover completely within a couple of weeks, however, it can be a very serious illness that can lead to permanent disability, and occasionally can cause death.
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“The best way to protect yourself and your family is to have the MMR vaccination.
“Anyone who hasn’t already had two doses should contact their GP surgery for an appointment to get vaccinated.”
The most recent government data revealed there have been 149 lab-confirmed cases of measles in England this year, with London being the worst hit.
Previously, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) warned London could see between 40,000 and 160,000 measles cases due to low levels of vaccination.
So far, there have been around 89 lab-confirmed cases of the Victorian disease in the capital.
After London, the next most infected area is the south east where 14 cases have been confirmed.
Furthermore, Yorkshire recorded 11 cases, the East of England recorded nine, and the south west eight.
Earlier this week the UK Health Security Agency published a measles risk assessment which concluded that although the risk of a UK-wide measles epidemic is considered low, a measles outbreak could trigger tens of thousands of cases in London.
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