Measles Outbreak Declared in East Midlands
Parents are being cautioned by Leicester's public health director after two cases of measles were confirmed in the region. The individuals affected include a university and a school student. This news comes amidst a period of decreased uptake in the Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) vaccination programme.
Public Urged to Get MMR Jabs amidst Measles Outbreak
Promoting vaccination, the county's Director of Public Health, Rob Howard stated: "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 has had the MMR vaccine. Measles is very infectious. Although people usually recover completely within a couple of weeks, it can lead to permanent disability, occasionally death. The best way to protect yourself and your family is to have the MMR vaccination."
Risks of Measles Infection
The infection is highly contagious, and can be particularly harmful to immuno-suppressed individuals and young infants, pregnant women and their unborn babies, by escalating the chances of miscarriage, stillbirth, or premature delivery.
Suboptimal Uptake of MMR Vaccine
A recent risk assessment by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) warned a measles outbreak of up to 160,000 cases could occur in London because of insufficient uptake of the MMR jab. Reports show that at the national level, childhood vaccination for preventable diseases sits below the recommended 95% threshold set by the World Health Organisation (WHO). As a result, none of England's routine vaccination programmes met the recommended uptake for the year 2022/23.
Response from UK Health Security Agency
Dr. Gayatri Amirthalingam, consultant medical epidemiologist at UKHSA, described the downward trend as a "serious concern". "The diseases that these vaccines protect against, such as measles, polio, and meningitis, can be life-altering and even deadly."
Steps Toward Prevention
In the UK, babies are currently offered immunisation against a myriad of ailments which include meningitis B, rotavirus, polio, tetanus, whooping cough, diphtheria, hepatitis B, haemophilus influenzae type b. Prolific vaccination is a pivotal prevention measure against preventable diseases.
"Check now that your children are fully up to date with all their vaccines due,” Dr. Amirthalingam urges parents.
Symptoms Alert from Health Protection Consultant
Susanne Howes, Consultant in Health Protection at UKHSA East Midlands, warns people to be vigilant for the symptoms of measles, which can include fever, a red-brown blotchy rash, and sore red eyes. "If you experience these symptoms seek medical attention but be sure to phone ahead before you visit your GP surgery or other healthcare setting, so arrangements can be made to prevent others from being infected," she said.