MMR plea as North West tops measles table

6 February 2009

More cases of measles were confirmed in the North West during the last three months of 2008 than anywhere else in England and Wales, figures published by the Health Protection Agency (HPA) reveal today.

In the country as a whole, 1348 cases were confirmed in 2008, up from 990 in 2007. Here in the North West, 180 cases were confirmed in 2008 compared to 31 in 2007, but 91 of the 2008 cases were recorded in the last three months of the year.

"We had a major outbreak in Central and Eastern Cheshire that accounted for many of the confirmed cases in the final quarter of 2008, but we also had a large outbreak on the Fylde Coast earlier in the year and smaller outbreaks and sporadic cases elsewhere in the region," said Dr. Rosemary McCann, HPA North West Regional Immunisation Lead.

"These outbreaks can happen in any communities where there are large numbers of unvaccinated children and young adults. Confidence in MMR vaccine is continuing to grow and increasing numbers of parents are having their children immunised at the appropriate time. However, we still have large numbers of older children and teenagers who missed out on immunisation as toddlers and these young people are needlessly vulnerable to infection.

"We need to keep reminding parents that if older children and teenagers have missed out on MMR immunisation, it is not too late. Anyone up to the age of 18 is entitled to MMR vaccination on the NHS and it can be arranged through the GP services.

"Measles, mumps and rubella should not be treated lightly. All can have nasty side effects and in rare cases, people die from measles. MMR is safe, proven and effective. Every child, teenager and young adult deserves to be given the protection it affords."

Commenting on the national increase in measles, Dr Mary Ramsay, an immunisation expert at the Health Protection Agency's Centre for Infections in Colindale, said:

"The year-on-year increase of measles across England and Wales is very worrying. Last year saw the highest number of cases since the current method of monitoring the disease was introduced in 1995.

"What is so alarming is that the majority of these cases could have been prevented.

"There are still many children out there who were not vaccinated as toddlers over the past decade and remain unprotected. Unfortunately this means that measles, which is highly infectious, is spreading easily among these unvaccinated children.

"We are glad to see that public confidence in the MMR vaccine is now high with more than 8 out of 10 children receiving one dose of MMR by their second birthday. However, children who weren't vaccinated many years ago are still at real risk. Measles should not be taken lightly as you can never tell who will go on to develop the more serious complications of pneumonia and encephalitis.

"This is why it's incredibly important to remember that measles isn't a 'harmless' childhood disease and that it is never too late to get your child immunised with the MMR vaccine. It is the most effective way to protect children against measles, mumps and rubella."

Note to editors

The table below shows the steady increase in measles cases in England and Wales since 1998, the year in which it was erroneously reported that MMR vaccine might be linked to autism. The research that underpinned these reports is now discredited and confidence in MMR has largely been restored, but children who missed out on MMR protection as youngsters over the past 11 years remain vulnerable.

Year	Confirmed measles cases
1998	56
1999	92
2000	100
2001	70
2002	319
2003	437
2004	188
2005	78
2006	740
2007	990
2008	1348*

*provisional

1. Figures for confirmed measles up to end of December 2008 in the UK are as follows: 
   North West - 180
   North East - 15
   South East - 127
   South West - 38
   East of England - 84
   East Midlands - 45
   West Midlands - 109
   Yorkshire and Humberside - 47
   London - 662
   Wales - 39
   Unknown region - 2
2. The latest uptake of MMR is for children aged two and five years of age in July - September 2008. Uptake of one dose for the UK by age 2 is 84.5%. The number of pre-school children receiving both doses of MMR by their fifth birthday is 77.9%.
3. Measles cases by age breakdown are as follows:  
   - Under 1 - 112
   - 1 to 3 years, 6 months - 265
   - 3 years, 7 months to 11 years - 432
   - 12 - 18 years - 286 
   - 18 years and over - 252
   - Age unknown - 1
4. On 7 August 2008, Sir Liam Donaldson, the Chief Medical Officer, established a MMR catch up programme providing Primary Care Trusts and GPs with extra funding to identify individuals not up to date with their MMR and offer catch-up immunisation to reduce the risk of a measles epidemic. More information about this programme is available at:
   http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Lettersandcirculars/Professionalletters/Chiefmedicalofficerletters/DH_086837
5. Press release issued by Hugh Lamont, Communications Manager, HPA North West. Tel 0151-482-5728 or 07764-906508.

Last reviewed: 5 February 2009