Parents warned to ensure their children are vaccinated with MMR following measles outbreaks in Brent

20 March 2008

The Health Protection Agency, Brent Primary Care Trust and Brent Council are warning parents about the dangers of measles following two outbreaks in schools in the Harlesden and Willesden areas. There is also concern that more cases will be seen over the coming months.

The two outbreaks which have affected primary schools in the area have involved 9 children at one school and 11 at another. The Health Protection Agency, Primary Care Trust and Council will be working with both schools to control the outbreaks and offer advice to parents and pupils about measles.

Since the start of January 40 suspected cases of measles have been reported in Brent (of which 15 have been laboratory confirmed), this compares to 39 cases in Brent during the whole of 2007.

Uptake of the MMR vaccine in Brent is 74% and GPs and schools are being warned that their patients and students are at risk of infection unless they are immunised.

Dr Deepti Kumar, Consultant at the North West London Health Protection Unit said: We are alerting health professionals and schools in the Brent area to ensure they are aware of the possibility of more cases of measles and the importance of children receiving two doses of MMR vaccine.

“Measles is an unpleasant illness even in its mildest form. We, alongside colleagues in the NHS are urging all parents to ensure that their children are adequately protected with two doses of the vaccine. The complications which can occur as a result of having measles can be severe, sometimes long lasting and rarely can result in death. The safest way to avoid this is by having the MMR vaccine.

“MMR is a highly effective, safe vaccine which is given to children in two doses – one when they are aged 13 months and one from three years and four months of age, although this second dose can be given earlier. If a child has not been vaccinated, please arrange to get them protected against what can be nasty illnesses”

Notes to editors

1. Anyone concerned about the signs or symptoms of measles should contact their GP or NHS Direct 0845 4647.
2. Measles is a very infectious viral illness that used to affect up to 800,000 people per year. Since the introduction of measles vaccine, and especially since the introduction of MMR vaccine, numbers of cases have been reduced to very low levels.
3. Almost everyone infected will feel generally unwell and develop symptoms such as:
   - Fever
   - Cough
   - Red and painful eyes
   - Swollen glands
   - Loss of appetite
   - Rash, which tends to follow 3-4 days after onset of the above symptoms.
    
4. People are infectious from just before the time that they become unwell to around 4 days after the onset of the rash. Those affected should stay off school or work for 5 days from the onset of the rash.
5. The latest MMR uptake for Brent is 74% for the quarter ending September 2007 for the first dose of MMR in two year olds. The target to prevent measles transmission is 95% uptake. MMR uptake has historically been low in Lewisham and many other parts of London , resulting in many unprotected children in the community.
6. For further information about measles and MMR vaccine:
   Measles homepage
   http://www.mmrthefacts.nhs.uk/
   http://www.mmrthefacts.nhs.uk/library/thediseases.php
7. For further information, please contact:
   Emily Collins: Emily.collins@hpa.org.uk tel: 020 7759 2824, or
   Claire Kennedy: Claire.kennedy@hpa.org.uk tel: 020 7759 2834.

Last reviewed: 8 January 2009