MMR vaccine alert for travellers

Holidaymakers have been given fresh warnings to ensure they are vaccinated against measles as European cases reached an eight-year high.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) warned the number of cases of the highly infectious disease during 2018 have already outstripped any year since 2010.

Across Europe there were more than 41,000 cases recorded during the first six months of 2018, including 37 deaths.

The WHO said the highest annual total for measles cases since 2010 was in 2017 when 23,927 cases were identified.

France, Georgia, Greece, Italy, Russia, Serbia and Ukraine have had more than 1,000 cases each so far in 2018 – with Ukraine the hardest hit.

Dr Pauline Paterson, co-director of the Vaccine Confidence Project team at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, said: “With a vaccine-preventable disease, one case is one too many, and the number of measles cases so far year is astounding.

“A very high vaccination coverage of 95% is needed for community protection.”

Dr Mary Ramsay, head of immunisation at Public Health England said: “Anyone who missed out on their MMR vaccine in the past or are unsure if they had two doses should contact their GP practice to catch up.” this