Vaccination Drive as Measles reappears in Manchester and Oldham

13 March 2009

Parents are being urged to protect their children with two doses of MMR vaccine following an outbreak of measles in North East Manchester and Oldham

Six confirmed cases and one probable case of measles have been reported in the last week. The cases are aged between 1 and 17 years and three have required treatment in hospital.

Dr Rosemary Mc Cann, Consultant in Communicable Disease Control with the Health Protection Agency 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 up to one-in-three children and young people in these areas are not fully immunised and could catch measles.

"We are advising parents that if their child has missed one or both doses of MMR, they should contact their GP to arrange vaccination."

Alan Higgins, Director of Public Health for Oldham, said: We know that in Oldham, as in Manchester and other parts of the country, there are a number of children, teenagers and young adults who have not had two doses of MMR vaccine.

"We've been offering catch-up clinics for older children for some time and working hard with GPs to make sure that younger children get the vaccinations they need."

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. 

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, there is a high risk of further spread if we don't take action," Dr. McCann said.

More information is also available at the following websites:

http://www.immunisation.nhs.uk  (NHS immunisation information website)
http://www.hpa.org.uk (The Health Protection Agency Website)
http://www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk (NHS Direct Website)

Note to editors

These are the first confirmed cases of measles in the whole of Greater Manchester this year. Last year there were 25 confirmed cases in Greater Manchester and 6 in Manchester itself.

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 Claire Norman Communications Manager, NHS Oldham on 0161-622-6617.

Last reviewed: 13 March 2009