better health
It was previously eradicated from the UK but now cases of the life-threatening disease are on the rise – and our kids are at risk
According to the World Health Organisation, the UK had successfully eliminated measles by 2016, but it has returned and there has been a rapid escalation in cases in recent months.
According to data released by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), there have been 347 laboratory confirmed measles cases reported in England since 1 October last year, with 127 of these cases confirmed in January alone. 75 per cent of these cases have been in the West Midlands, 13 per cent in London and seven per cent in Yorkshire and The Humber. The majority of cases are in children aged under ten.
“The ongoing measles outbreak in the West Midlands remains a concern,” says Dr Vanessa Saliba, UKHSA Consultant
Epidemiologist. “MMR vaccine coverage has been falling for the last decade, with one out of ten children starting school in England not protected, and so there is a real risk that this outbreak could spread to other towns and cities.”
Why is measles so bad?
Measles is a highly infectious viral illness. Analysis shows one infected child in a classroom can infect up to nine other unvaccinated children, making it one of the most infectious diseases worldwide – and more infectious than COVID-19. Meanwhile, one in five children with measles will need to be admitted to hospital for treatment.
Measles is contained in the millions of tiny droplets that come out of the nose or mouth when an infected person coughs or sneezes, and is spread to other people by them breathing them in or touching a surface where the droplets have settled. In itself, measles can be unpleasant and will usually pass in seven to ten days.
However, measles can lead to serious and potentially life-threatening complications in some people – including infections of the lungs (pneumonia) and brain (encephalitis). Signs of serious complications can include shortness of breath, a sharp chest pain, coughing up blood, drowsiness, confusion and fits. If these symptoms develop, go to A&E or call 999. Other less common complications can include hepatitis, misalignment of the eyes or vision loss (if the virus affects the nerves and muscles of the eye) and infection of the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord (meningitis). Those most at risk of developing such complications are babies under one year old, children with a poor diet or those with a weakened immune system (such as those with leukaemia). If caught during pregnancy it can be very serious too, causing stillbirth, miscarriage and low birth weight.
Catch-up campaign
“Measles is a serious but entirely preventable disease,” says Health Minister
