Measles cases in England are on the rise, particularly in the West Midlands and London, according to health officials. They are urging people to get the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) jab, as vaccine uptake has reached its lowest level in over a decade.
Measles is a highly contagious disease that is spread through coughs and sneezes. While it typically lasts for seven to 10 days, it can lead to serious complications such as pneumonia, meningitis, blindness, and seizures. Those at higher risk include babies, young children, pregnant women, and individuals with weakened immune systems.
Symptoms of measles in both children and adults include high fever, sore and watery eyes, coughing, sneezing, and a red or brown rash that typically starts on the face and spreads to the rest of the body. The virus is spread through tiny droplets released when an infected person coughs or sneezes, which are then inhaled or touched and transferred to the nose or mouth.
If infected, individuals are encouraged to rest, take pain relievers, drink plenty of fluids, and practice good hygiene. They should seek medical attention if they experience shortness of breath, a high fever that doesn’t respond to medication, coughing up blood, confusion, or seizures.
The MMR vaccine is typically given to children at 12 months and again at around three years and four months, but it is also available for adults. Side effects are generally mild and short-lived, such as redness and swelling at the injection site or a high temperature in babies and young children.
Measles cases have been on the rise in England, with 1,603 suspected cases in 2023, a sharp increase from previous years. Vaccinations for measles were introduced in the UK in 1968 and are estimated to have prevented 20 million cases and 4,500 deaths. The current two-dose MMR jab was introduced in 1996, but concerns over a now-disproved link to autism caused vaccination rates to drop. In 2022-23, only 84.5% of children had received two MMR doses by the age of five, the lowest level since 2010-11 when vaccination rates were impacted by misinformation.
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