The Government’s health chiefs have warned Brits of a “highly infectious” disease and urged the public to get vaccinated.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) issued the alert about measles on Wednesday morning.
Posting on X, they wrote: “Measles is highly infectious. 1 person can infect 15 other unvaccinated people on average.
“Being vaccinated helps protect you, and others who can’t be vaccinated such as young and unborn babies.”
According to the NHS, measles can “cause serious problems in some people,” particularly those who are not vaccinated.
If you’re pregnant, getting measles can cause premature birth, miscarriage or still birth.
That’s why it’s vital to get protection with the MMR vaccine, which provides long-term protection against measles, mumps, and rubella.
Measles typically starts with cold-like symptoms, followed by a rash a few days later.
Small spots in the mouth also occur for some people.
The MMR vaccine is recommended for all babies and young children. A first dose should be offered at one year old and a second at three years and four months old.
However, the vaccine can be given at any age, and it’s especially important to get the jab if you’re travelling to a country with a higher risk of measles, you’re pregnant, or you’re a healthcare worker.
If you think you or your child may have measles, you are advised to contact 111 or ask for an urgent GP appointment.
In November, experts mapped the areas of England with the highest numbers of measles cases as the country grappled with the biggest outbreak of the disease since available records began in 1996.
England confirmed 362 measles infections through lab tests in 2023. In 2022, there were 53 confirmed cases, and in 2021, only two – although this was during a period when the country was still under pandemic restrictions.
But in 2024, there were nearly 3,000 cases of the disease. Nearly half of all cases last year (45 percent) were discovered in London, with almost 20 percent being recorded in the West Midlands.
In 2016, the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared that the UK had eliminated measles due to the success of the MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccine. However, this status was revoked two years later following a surge in cases.
