Agency publishes annual measles figures for 2008

9 February 2009

There were 47 confirmed cases of measles in Yorkshire and the Humber recorded in 2008 compared to 136 recorded in 2007. 

Dr Ruth Gelletlie, Regional Director for the Health Protection Agency Yorkshire and the Humber, said: "During 2007 we saw an increase in the number of confirmed measles cases in our region and it is encouraging that we have seen significantly fewer confirmed cases reported for 2008.

"However, it's important that we continue to work with health professionals in the NHS to increase uptake of the MMR vaccine in our region. 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, can spread easily among these unvaccinated children."

Latest vaccine coverage data shows that MMR uptake for children reaching 24 months of age in Yorkshire and the Humber is 85%, in line with the national uptake figure of 84.5%. However, the World Health Organisation recommends that 95% of children need to be vaccinated with the MMR vaccine to protect everyone in the community and make sure infections cannot keep spreading.

Dr Gelletlie added: "Children are best protected from the measles virus when they have been given two doses of the MMR vaccination and I would continue to remind all parents of the importance of this safe and effective immunisation to protect both individuals and our whole community from these infections.

"If your child has not been vaccinated, please contact your GP or health visitor to arrange to get them protected against what can be nasty and dangerous illnesses. We know from research that 10% of people receiving the first dose of the MMR vaccine may not be fully protected against measles, mumps and rubella so it's important that all children have the second dose as well, to make sure that they are fully protected."

Ends

Notes to Editors

• Symptoms of measles usually develop around ten days after being in contact with an infectious person and last for up to 14 days from the first signs. The early warning signs, which can last two to four days, can include fever, conjunctivitis (sore and red eyes), spots inside the mouth and a cough and runny nose. The characteristic measles rash of flat red or brown blotches, then usually appears around the fourth day of the illness, spreads and lasts for about a week.
• Measles is now very rare in the UK thanks to the introduction of the MMR vaccine. However, complications can be common in people with measles and can include severe coughs and breathing difficulties, ear and eye infections and pneumonia. In rare cases, there can also be serious complications affecting the brain and nervous system. Deaths from measles in the UK are extremely rare - but, worldwide, an estimated one million children die every year as a result of catching measles, mostly in developing countries with poor vaccination programmes.
• 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

    
Issued by Charlotte Farrar
0113 284 0618
07810 684 104
Charlotte.farrar@hpa.org.uk

Last reviewed: 9 April 2009