The U.K. Health Security Agency (UKHSA) declared a “national incident,” signaling a growing public health risk due to a surge in cases of measles across the United Kingdom.
During a visit to Birmingham on Jan. 19, UKHSA Chief Executive Professor Dame Jenny Harries called for urgent action to boost the uptake of vaccinations against measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) in areas where the number of people receiving them is low.
Since October 1, there have been 216 confirmed cases and 103 probable cases in the West Midlands; most of the cases have been in the city of Birmingham and involve youngsters under the age of ten.
“Children who get measles can be very poorly and some will suffer life-changing complications,” said the UKHSA chief. “The best way for parents to protect their children from measles is the MMR vaccine. Two doses of the MMR vaccine give lifelong protection and it’s never too late to catch up.”
According to the World Health Organization, measles is a highly contagious disease caused by a virus that spreads easily when an infected person breathes, coughs, or sneezes.