{"id":241027,"date":"2023-11-15T12:31:13","date_gmt":"2023-11-15T12:31:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lovemainstream.com\/?p=241027"},"modified":"2023-11-15T12:31:13","modified_gmt":"2023-11-15T12:31:13","slug":"measles-hotspots-in-england-mapped-check-your-local-area","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lovemainstream.com\/lifestyle\/measles-hotspots-in-england-mapped-check-your-local-area\/","title":{"rendered":"Measles hotspots in England mapped – check your local area"},"content":{"rendered":"
Measles: We have forgotten how dangerous it is says expert<\/h3>\n
A new city has been added to the measles hotspots across England amid recent outbreaks of the infection.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
While vaccines provide effective protection against measles, experts have warned of low uptake of the MMR jab.<\/p>\n
During the COVID-19 pandemic, less children got their necessary vaccinations, leaving the country vulnerable to outbreaks.<\/p>\n
In fact, the proportion of five-year-old children who had had their first and second jab was the lowest it\u2019s been in a decade.<\/p>\n
READ MORE <\/strong> Unjabbed children could face isolation as cases of contagious disease rise<\/strong><\/p>\n
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Worryingly, measles can lead to the development of complications like pneumonia, swelling of the brain, or even long-term disability on rare occasions.<\/p>\n
Following the two recent cases in Leicester, the county\u2019s director of public health has urged parents to make sure their children are up to date with their MMR jabs.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cMeasles 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.<\/p>\n
Don’t miss… <\/strong> Unjabbed children could face isolation as cases of contagious disease rise[INFORMER] <\/strong> Three Victorian diseases on the rise in the UK – symptoms for you to spot[SIGNS] <\/strong> London could see tens of thousands of measles cases warns UKHSA[WARNING] <\/strong><\/p>\n
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“The best way to protect yourself and your family is to have the MMR vaccination.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnyone who hasn\u2019t already had two doses should contact their GP surgery for an appointment to get vaccinated.\u201d<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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So far, there have been around 89 lab-confirmed cases of the Victorian disease in the capital.<\/p>\n
After London, the next most infected area is the south east where 14 cases have been confirmed.<\/p>\n
Furthermore, Yorkshire recorded 11 cases, the East of England recorded nine, and the south west eight.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n