19 January 2024 , 12:30
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A measles outbreak in the UK could be putting youngsters at risk of hospitalisation and even death as cases soar among those who aren't vaccinated.
Parents are being warned to be aware of the symptoms of the Victorian disease after more and more children are being confirmed to have the virus, which is easily spread. Some unvaccinated children are being warned they need to isolate at home for three weeks after coming into contact with a suspected case.
Dame Professor Jenny Harries, who became known to the public during the coronavirus pandemic, and now head of the UKHSA said children who get measles "can be very poorly and some will suffer life changing complications" and added that the best way for parents to protect their children from measles is the MMR vaccine.
The first symptoms of measles develop around 10 days after you’re infected - and include:
- cold-like symptoms, such as a runny nose, sneezing, and a cough
- sore, red eyes that may be sensitive to light, watery or swollen
- a high temperature (fever), which may reach around 40°C (104°F)
- small greyish-white spots in the mouth
- aches and pains
- loss of appetite
- tiredness, irritability and a general lack of energy
The measles rash appears around 2 to 4 days after the initial symptoms and normally fades after about a week. The rash is made up of small red-brown, flat or slightly raised spots that may join together into larger blotchy patches. It usually first appears on the head or neck, before spreading outwards to the rest of the body, is slightly itchy for some people.
'Chickenpox vaccine plan is overwhelmingly supported by parents for their kids'
To date, there have been 216 confirmed cases and 103 probable cases in the West Midlands since 1 October 2023. Around 80% of cases have been seen in Birmingham, with about 10% in Coventry, with the majority being in children aged under 10.
Dame Harries said: “Colleagues across the West Midlands have worked tirelessly to try to control the outbreak, but with vaccine uptake in some communities so low, there is now a very real risk of seeing the virus spread in other towns and cities. Children who get measles can be very poorly and some will suffer life changing complications. The best way for parents to protect their children from measles is the MMR vaccine. Two doses of the MMR vaccine give lifelong protection and it's never too late to catch up.
“Immediate action is needed to boost MMR uptake across communities where vaccine uptake is low. We know from the pandemic that the communities themselves, and those providing services within them, will have the knowledge to best support local families to understand the risks of measles, to learn more about the vaccines that can protect them and to enable innovative vaccine delivery approaches. We need a long-term concerted effort to protect individuals and to prevent large measles outbreaks.”