Measles cases soar as vaccination drops
REPORTS of measles in the West Midlands hit their highest level since the start of the year.
There were 13 cases reported in the region in the week to March 25 alone, the highest number in one week since the start of 2018.
Measles is a highly infectious viral illness that can lead to serious complications and in rare cases can be fatal.
The numbers of reports have been growing in recent weeks, rising from 10 the previous week before and eight in the week to March 11.
The number of reports to Public Health England (PHE) is up from two cases recorded in the same week in 2017, and none in 2016 and 2015.
Of the Midland cases reported, six were in Birmingham, with two each in Coventry, Solihull and Walsall, and one in Sandwell.
The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, based in Sweden, has reported a high risk of measles in Europe, with cases being imported and exported between countries.
This is largely due to lower MMR vaccine uptake in many European countries. Romania, Italy, Germany, Greece and France are all currently experiencing large measles outbreaks.
Although the overall risk to the UK population is low, in England there have been 168 laboratory confirmed measles cases this year.
London, South East, West Midlands and the South West regions have reported the most cases.
About half of the cases in England in 2018 have been in people over 15 years of age.
Whilst MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccine coverage for the routine childhood programme is high in the UK, anyone who has missed out on MMR vaccine or has not had measles in the past is at risk of catching the disease.
Dr Mary Ramsay, Head of Immunisation at PHE, said: “We want to remind people that measles is not just a disease of young children and we’re seeing many cases in people over 15 years of age.”
Initial symptoms of measles can include a runny or blocked nose, sneezing, watery eyes, swollen eyelids, sore, red eyes that may be sensitive to light and a high temperature.
A rash then appears a day or two later.