Vaccination Drive as Measles reappears in Manchester

27 May 2008

Parents are being urged to protect their children with two doses of MMR vaccine following confirmation that measles has been confirmed in Manchester for the first time since 2006. (*See notes to editors)

Two confirmed cases and a probable case, all affecting young children, have been reported within the last three weeks.  There were no confirmed cases in the city in the whole of 2007.

Dr Rosemary McCann, the Health Protection Agency North West’s regional immunisation lead, said “These cases prove that it is vitally important for children to have both doses of MMR, which will give life-long protection against measles, mumps and rubella.

“These are potentially serious illnesses and more than one-in-three 5-year-olds in Manchester are vulnerable to them because they have not had the two doses of MMR that is needed to protect them.

“We are advising parents that if their child has missed one or both doses of MMR, they should contact their GP, practice nurse, health visitor or school nurse to arrange vaccination.”

Measles is an infectious viral illness that is spread by droplets in the air when infected people cough or sneeze.  The most common symptoms are fever, cough, sore eyes and a rash. 

Most patients make a full recovery, but some will experience serious complications that can include pneumonia, meningitis and on rare occasions, death. 

Dr. Sally Bradley, Director Public Health with Manchester PCT, said: “Measles can be a serious illness with the potential for nasty complications. That is why it is so important for parents to protect their children with two doses of MMR vaccine.

“The vaccine is usually given to children at around 13 months old, with a second dose before they start school. 

 “Although we are only aware of a small number of cases at present, with so many unvaccinated children in Manchester, there is a high risk of further spread if we don’t take action.”

More information is also available at the following websites:

http://www.immunisation.nhs.uk  (NHS immunisation information website)

http://www.mmrthefacts.nhs.uk (NHS MMR The Facts website)

http://www.hpa.org.uk (The Health Protection Agency Website)

http://www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk (NHS Direct Website)

Note to editors

* (With reference to the opening paragraph, these two confirmed cases and a third case that has still to be confirmed by laboratory testing, are the first to be recorded in the City of Manchester since 2006. These are also the first cases to have no known association with risk groups, such as the travelling community, close-knit religious groups or people who contracted measles abroad.

17 of the 20 confirmed cases in the North West during 2007 were recorded in Greater Manchester, but these were in the main associated with risk groups.

It is vital that parents everywhere protect their children with two doses of MMR vaccine. Immunisation against disease is the best gift that any parent can give to a child.)

221 cases of measles were confirmed in England and Wales in the first 13 weeks of 2008.

Measles is a highly infectious viral illness that was once common in the UK. Since the introduction of measles vaccine, and especially since the introduction of MMR vaccine in 1988, numbers of cases have reduced to low levels.  However, during the past year there have been isolated outbreaks in parts of the country where uptake of the vaccine was low.

The following symptoms are commonly seen in measles infection:

• Fever
• Cough
• Sore and watering eyes
• Widespread rash that develops 3-4 days after the onset of the illness, starting with the face and head and spreading down the body.

Although most people will get over measles without too many problems, a significant number will go on to develop complications including ear infection, diarrhoea, pneumonia or meningitis.

Complications are more likely in those who have a weakened immune system or in infants under the age of 1 year.  Measles can also cause problems in pregnancy. People in these categories who are recent contacts of a definite case of measles and who are not immune may be offered vaccination.

Medicines such as paracetamol and ibuprofen can alleviate some of the symptoms associated with fever, but aspirin and medications containing aspirin should be avoided in children under the age of 16 years. Antibiotics may be prescribed if patients suffer a bacterial infection. 

People are infectious from just before the time 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.

The most effective protection against measles infection is full immunisation with two doses of MMR vaccine. The doses are normally given at 13 months of age and just before going to school at age four or five.

For further information please contact Hugh Lamont, Communications Manager, HPA North West, on 0151-482-5728 or 07764-906508 or Tim Seamens, Communications Manager, Manchester Primary Care Trust, on 0161-958-4123.

Last reviewed: 14 January 2009