Doctors are reminding parents of the dangers of measles following a concerning increase in the disease among children.
Health officials are urging parents to take the simple steps required to ensure that their children are protected against this very serious disease following a series of confirmed cases across Bristol, Bath & North East Somerset, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire.
The increase in cases locally reflects a trend observed across England and Europe. A total of 496 laboratory confirmed cases were reported across England and Wales from January to May 2011, compared with just 374 cases for the whole of 2010.
Locally (across the former Avon area) there has been a significant increase in the number of confirmed cases from 2010-11.
In 2010, a total of five cases were reported. However, in 2011, confirmed cases increased to 30 and over half of these cases (19) belonged to children (aged between 0 – 16 years).
There were 5 confirmed cases of measles in Bath and North East Somerset in 2011.
Measles, for many years extremely rare, is showing signs of coming back for one reason only: not enough children have been fully vaccinated and so are susceptible to infection. When they get measles, they pass it on to others.
Almost a quarter of children aged five in Bristol have not received two doses of the vaccine, so may be at risk of getting infected.
In South Gloucestershire, North Somerset and Bath and North East Somerset areas at least one in 10 five year olds are not fully protected.
Measles is a highly contagious infection that can spread very easily by coughing and sneezing. It causes a fever, a rash, sore eyes and cold-like symptoms but can also cause more serious complications in some children such as meningitis and pneumonia. You can prevent your child from catching the virus with two doses of the MMR vaccine, which is routinely offered to children and has been proven to be safe.
Adam Finn, Professor of Paediatrics at the University of Bristol and a Consultant at the Bristol Royal Hospital for Children said: "We are reminding parents and young adults that measles can be a severe infection. One in 1000 cases is fatal and many more become seriously ill. Two doses of the MMR vaccine are necessary to provide protection. The vaccine is available from GPs. Extra doses are not harmful – if in doubt, find out or get vaccinated. Don’t put it off and regret it later.”
Most childhood rashes are not measles, but parents should see their GP if their child has these symptoms and they are worried.
If you are planning to get pregnant and you have not had measles or received the MMR vaccine you should arrange with your GP to have the MMR vaccine.