MEASLES has returned as a threat to British children for the first time in decades after vaccination rates have plummeted, experts have warned.
There were 1,603 suspected cases of the ‘disability-causing disease’ in England and Wales in 2023, new figures from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) show.
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This compares to just 735 cases during the same time in 2022.
The suspected cases are based on notification from doctors, who report incidences of measles symptoms.
Not all are later confirmed to be measles by laboratory tests.
Public Health Scotland said there have been “very few” cases north of the border.
Northern Ireland is preparing for an outbreak, as doctors have been told to “think measles” when treating children.
Outbreaks in southern England tend to affect Northern Ireland a few weeks later.
According to the UKHSA, West Midlands cases have been the highest since at least the mid-1990s.
Health protection consultant Dr Naveed Syed raised the alarm after witnessing a rise in cases in the region.
He claimed the virus will likely spread rapidly among patients who haven’t been jabbed at least once.
In the last week of December, 55 suspected cases were reported in England and Wales, with the majority coming from London and West Midlands.
Dr Naveed Syed said: “We are seeing cases of measles rising every day in the West Midlands.
“The virus is very infectious and can spread rapidly among communities, such as schools if people have not had at least one dose of the MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccine.”
So what is going on?
There used to be between 160,000 and 800,000 cases a year in England and Wales.
But since a vaccine was introduced in 1968, it is estimated that 20million infections and 4,500 deaths have been prevented.
Since 1996, children in the UK have been offered two doses of the MMR jab – uptake needs to be 95 per cent to block the spread.
However, the UKHSA said only 85 per cent of five-year-olds in England have received the recommended two doses this year.
The figure worsens in certain parts of the country, especially in east London.
Susceptibility to the bug is also high among 19- to 25-year-olds, of which many went unvaccinated because of unfounded worries about the vaccine in the early 2000s.
According to the NHS, if one person has measles, up to nine out of 10 people around him or her will also become infected if they are not protected.
It has been suggested that the low uptake could be due to the national shortage of healthcare workers, who are often the only people to discuss vaccinations with parents.
Data from NHS Digital reveals there were 5,870 health visitors in July 2022, a drop of 43 per cent from its peak of 10,309 in October 2015.
The 6 symptoms to know
The main symptoms are a rash, flu-like signs, tiredness, red eyes, fever and small grey spots on the back of the throat.
However, it can lead to serious complications, including meningitis and pneumonia.
Dr Syed added: “People may not realise how severe measles can be.
“While most people recover within a few weeks, the virus can cause serious illness.
“Sometimes this can leave permanent disability, and it can even cause death.”
Which areas are worst affected?
The Notification of Infectious Diseases report (NOIDS), which tracks suspected infectious disease cases in England and Wales, revealed cases in both countries.
It does not specify the ages of those suspected to have the bug.
Some 55 cases were reported in the week ending December 31, 120 per cent more than the 35 cases ending November 12.
London is one of the hardest-hit areas in the UK within the last week – with 17 suspected cases, followed by the West Midlands, with 15.
The North West and Wales came in as the third and fourth worst affected areas, having reported seven and six cases, respectively.
Doctors in East Midlands reported four suspected cases, making it the fifth most affected area.
The South West and Yorkshire came in sixth and seventh, reporting three and two cases, respectively.
The East of England came in seventh, reporting just one case.
Meanwhile, the North East and South East are the least affected areas, with no cases.
Have you or your family been affected by measles? Email isabel.shaw@thesun.co.uk
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PROTECT YOUR CHILD
VACCINES are our best line of defence against diseases like measles
All children are offered the first dose of the super-effective MMR vaccine at age one and then the second at age three – but people can catch up on missed jabs at any age.
If you know you or your child isn’t up to date with their jabs, call your GP for an appointment.
“It’s never too late to get vaccinated,” Prof Helen Bedford, an expert in child public health at University College London, told The Sun.
“Make sure you check your child’s red vaccination Book, but if you can’t find it, or they don’t have a record, call your GP up to check.”
