Measles is one of the most infectious diseases and spreads very easily among people who are unvaccinated.
Although many people experience it as an unpleasant illness, it can cause serious complications, hospitalisation and, in rare cases, death. Babies, young children, pregnant women and people with weakened immune systems are particularly vulnerable.
Symptoms include a runny nose, cough, high fever, sore red watery eyes and a blotchy rash, which appears brown or red on white skin but can be harder to see on brown and Black skin.
Anyone who develops symptoms of measles should stay at home and contact their GP or NHS 111 for advice rather than visiting a GP surgery or A&E, as measles is highly infectious and can spread easily to others.
Vaccination remains the most effective way to protect individuals and communities, and the NHS has introduced a new MMRV vaccine, which protects against measles, mumps, rubella and chickenpox.
It replaces the previous MMR vaccine in the routine childhood vaccination programme, with all children now offered 2 doses of the MMRV vaccine at 12 months and 18 months, alongside a selective catch up programme for older children who have either not had 2 doses of the chickenpox vaccine, or have not contracted chickenpox.
Councillor Obaida Ahmed, the City of Wolverhampton Council’s Cabinet Member for Health, Wellbeing and Community, said: “Measles cases have been increasing again in England and internationally in recent years, at the same time as we have seen vaccination rates fall nationally. Lower uptake makes it easier for measles to spread, putting vulnerable groups at greater risk.
“Most recent cases in England have occurred in children under 10, with many outbreaks linked to nurseries and schools.
“We are encouraging families to make sure that all family members have received both their MMR or MMRV doses. Vaccination records can be checked in children’s red books, through GP practices or on the NHS App. It is never too late to catch up, and these vaccinations are free on the NHS.”
