Don't let Measles Spoil Easter Holiday Celebrations

18 April 2011

The lead up to the April Bank Holidays has begun and as families across the region prepare for holidays and day trips, immunisation experts are urging them to ensure they are fully protected against measles.

The Health Protection Agency Yorkshire and the Humber is stressing the importance of ensuring all children and young adults have received two doses of the MMR vaccine. It is particularly important that parents act now due to a recent upsurge in cases nationally, most probably related to recent travel, with outbreaks of measles reported from 24 countries across Europe so far in 2011.*

Measles is a highly infectious and dangerous illness. It spreads very easily through direct contact with an infected person or through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes. Being vaccinated is very important, not just to protect individuals, but also to stop the virus from spreading in the community and potentially seriously affecting others.

Dr Stephen Morton, Regional Director at HPA Yorkshire and the Humber, said: "With Easter approaching and social events and holidays planned, all families should check their children and young adults are fully up to date with MMR immunisation.

"It's never too late to get immunised with this safe and effective vaccine and we must not forget that the vaccine also protects against mumps and rubella, which also have the potential to be very serious illnesses."
Since the beginning of 2011, 135** laboratory confirmed cases of measles have been reported to the HPA between January - March, compared to 13 cases for the same period the previous year. Twenty two of the cases have been reported in the Yorkshire and the Humber region, with the majority of these cases linked to a recent outbreak in the Leeds student population. Nationally, cases are associated with either recent travel abroad or small clusters in mainly unvaccinated children and young adults between the ages of 10-24.

Dr Morton added: "Two doses of MMR are needed for optimum protection. If you or your child has not been vaccinated, or you are unsure, contact your GP or health visitor to arrange this.

"We cannot stress enough that measles is serious and in some cases it can be fatal. Delaying immunisation could put children at risk over Easter."

Ends

Notes to Editors:

•  * National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC) advice on measles risk during travel is available at: http://www.nathnac.org/pro/clinical_updates/measles_140411.htm
•  ** The 135 cases of measles cases reported to the HPA are a provisional total and final numbers are likely to be higher. Previous years figures by region for laboratory confirmed measles in England and Wales can be found at: http://www.hpa.org.uk/Topics/InfectiousDiseases/InfectionsAZ/Measles/EpidemiologicalData  
• HPA immunisation information for those going to summer camps can be found here - http://www.hpa.org.uk/Publications/InfectiousDiseases/InfectionControl/1005Goingtocampthissummer/ 
•  Symptoms of measles include:
   Fever
   Irritability
   Cold/catarrh symptoms - runny nose, sore and runny eyes
   Dry croupy cough
   White ( Kopliks ) spots on the gums ( 2nd and 3rd day )
   Diarrhoea - often in the early stages in children
• For more information on measles visit:
  http://www.hpa.org.uk/infections/topics_az/measles/menu.htm or NHS Choices: http://www.nhs.uk/Pages/HomePage.aspx

 

Issued by Charlotte Farrar
Media and Communications Officer
Charlotte.farrar@hpa.org.uk
0113 284 0618/ 07810 684 104

Last reviewed: 15 June 2011