UK health chiefs urge parents to vaccinate children against measles

Written by Amal Allam

Saturday, May 06, 2023 11:09 AM

The UK has warned of an outbreak of measles, with health chiefs urging parents to book measles vaccinations MMR For children to stem the deadly infection outbreak, 49 cases have been recorded so far in 2023, compared to 54 for the whole of 2022.

UK Health Security Agency revealed (UKHSA) So far, there have been 49 cases of measles, which causes high fever, blistering, red eyes, tears and rashes. That’s roughly the same as 54 cases of the virus, which spreads “very easily” and can lead to hospitalization, disability and death in severe cases, recorded in England throughout the year. 2022.

Describing the outbreak as “alarming”, health chiefs warn that one in six children has not had the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine. (MMR)But they said it’s never too late to catch up and urged parents to protect their children’s lives from measles before summer, when global travel and packed festival events facilitate .

said Dr Vanessa Saliba, consultant epidemiologist at the UK’s Health Security Agency UKHSA We call on all parents to make sure their children are aware of their measles doses, adding, it’s never too late to catch up, and you can get a free measles vaccine from the NHS. NHS Whatever your age, be warned, while measles is usually mild, there is always a risk of a fatal outcome.

She added, “Measles spreads very easily and can lead to complications that require hospitalization and in rare cases can cause lifelong disability or death, so it is very worrying to see cases starting to appear this year.” The symptoms are usually similar to a cold, including Including high temperatures, runny or stuffy nose, sneezing, coughing, red and sore eyes with increased tears, and these are the first signs of measles infection. After a few days, small white spots may appear inside the cheeks and on the back of the lips..

The rash, made up of raised red spots that join together, usually appears on the face and behind the ears before spreading to the rest of the body. Symptoms usually improve within a few weeks and are managed by drinking plenty of fluids and taking paracetamol or ibuprofen to reduce fever. However, If measles spreads to the lungs or brain, it can cause pneumonia, meningitis, blindness, and seizures.

London is currently the epicenter of the outbreak Measles In the country with 33 cases, children between the ages of one to four years are the most affected. Nationwide, 40% of cases detected so far in 2023 are among children under the age of five..

Professor Helen Bedford, an expert in children’s public health at University College London, said the increase in cases was “alarming but not surprising”. from 90%.

Measles is so contagious that even a small decrease in vaccine intake can lead to an outbreak – we need to maintain vaccination at 95% of two doses of MMR vaccine to prevent such outbreaks.

Coronavirus makes measles seem less dangerous, said Professor Bedford, and increased vaccinated frequency and pressure from general practitioners could be responsible for the drop in vaccination. Health chiefs are now urging parents of young children and adolescents, as well as adults themselves, to check they are up to date on vaccination. Measles, mumps, and rubella. Serious cases of measles can lead to pneumonia, meningitis, and even long-term disability or death.