History of Whooping Cough: Outbreaks and Vaccine Timeline

Measles Outbreak Prompts Call For Vaccination Uptake

A rise in measles cases had sparked a fresh call for uptake in the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine.

According to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), 15 new cases of the airborne disease have been recorded in Bristol and Gloucestershire in the last two weeks.

The highly contagious virus can lead to severe complications and even death. Symptoms include a red-brown blotchy rash, cold-like symptoms, sore red eyes and a high temperature.

To prevent further outbreak, UKHSA South West is urging people to stay up to date with their MMR vaccinations to provide the best protection against infection.

Recent UKHSA figures, external reveal there have been 46 laboratory confirmed cases of measles in the South West so far this year.

The rise in reported cases suggests that measles may be spreading quickly among the community, particularly between unvaccinated individuals.

Dr Alasdair Wood, consultant in health protection for UKHSA South West said: "The MMR vaccine is safe and by far the most effective way to protect yourself and those around you.

"Those at the highest risk of severe infection include pregnant women, children under one year old, and immunocompromised individuals.

"We all have a responsibility to help protect these groups by getting vaccinated and reducing the spread of the infection."

Dr Wood said it's "never too late" to get the vaccine, and those who are unsure whether they have received the full two doses should speak to their GP.

"There's no harm in receiving an additional dose where there is any uncertainty," he added.

Dr Wood warned that people can be infectious from four full days before, and until four full days after the initial rash appears.

If you suspect that you or a family member has measles, it is important that you seek medical advice and stay away from schools, large gatherings and workplaces.

Health Experts Stress Importance Of MMR Vaccination Amid Measles Rise

The surge in measles cases has triggered a fresh appeal for higher uptake of the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine.

As per BBC, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has confirmed 15 new cases of the airborne disease in Bristol and Gloucestershire in the past two weeks.

The highly contagious virus can cause severe health complications and even death.

Recent figures from the UKHSA data show that 46 laboratory-confirmed cases have been reported so far in the South West this year.

To prevent further outbreaks, UKHSA South West is advising people to ensure they are up to date with their MMR vaccinations to ensure the best protection against the infection.

Dr Alasdair Wood, consultant in health protection for UKHSA South West said in a statement, "The MMR vaccine is safe and by far the most effective way to protect yourself and those around you."

He added, "Those at the highest risk of severe infection include pregnant women, children under one year old, and immunocompromised individuals."

"We all have a responsibility to help protect these groups by getting vaccinated and reducing the spread of the infection," Wood suggested.

He further stated that it is "never too late" to get vaccinated and advised those uncertain about having received both doses to consult their GP.

Common symptoms for measles include a red-brown blotchy rash, cold-like symptoms, sore red eyes and a high temperature.

Global Measles Cases Up 20% In A Year, With Poor Vaccination To Blame

Sick child with red rash spots from measles.

getty

Measles is surging around the world, with around 10.3 million reported cases last year.

That's an increase of 20% on 2022, according to the World Health Organization, which blames the growth in numbers on inadequate vaccine coverage.

Measles is highly contagious and potentially fatal. Young children are particularly vulnerable to the disease, which killed an estimated 107,500 people in 2023, most of whom were under 5.

Countries need almost all children (95%) to have two measles shots to prevent outbreaks of the disease and keep the population safe, the WHO says. Last year, just 74% of children worldwide had received both their recommended doses, while 87% had received one.

Nearly 60 countries globally experienced significant measles outbreaks last year, with almost half of all large or disruptive outbreaks taking place in Africa. The Eastern Mediterranean, European, Southeast Asia and Western Pacific regions all recorded a substantial rise in cases.

"Measles vaccine has saved more lives than any other vaccine in the past 50 years," WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in a statement. "To save even more lives and stop this deadly virus from harming the most vulnerable, we must invest in immunization for every person, no matter where they live."

Measles Signs and Symptoms

Measles is airborne and spreads when infected people cough, sneeze and breathe. It causes symptoms like a high fever, a cough, a runny nose and a distinctive rash that can appear over the whole body. It can lead to severe complications including blindness, brain swelling, ear infections, severe diarrhea and pneumonia.

Vaccines train the body to respond to the virus that causes measles, making it harder for the disease to take hold.

Children get their measles vaccine as part of a combined shot that also protects against mumps and rubella.

In the U.S., the first dose is offered to infants aged 12 to 15 months, while the second is offered between 4 and 6 years of age — ideally before a child starts school. Adults and teens who never got the shots as kids can get them as adults if they choose.

The vaccine is highly effective, with two doses providing 97% protection against measles. A single dose is still 93% effective at preventing the disease.

There's no set treatment for measles. But caregivers can help sick patients by making them comfortable and helping relieve their symptoms, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Measles has historically been relatively rare in the U.S. In 2023, just 59 cases were recorded nationwide, largely because of longstanding childhood vaccination programs. Nonetheless, outbreaks still hit the country.

In 2019, the U.S. Recorded 1,274 cases, most of which affected people who had not been vaccinated. This year, 277 U.S. Cases have been recorded so far, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Vaccine Uptake

Vaccine skepticism is often blamed for increased measles rates. The triple measles, mumps and rubella shots that protect against the disease have long been the subject of controversy, despite scientific evidence showing they are safe and effective.

A fraudulent paper in medical journal The Lancet did much to fuel suspicion of the shots in the 1990s and early 2000. British former doctor Andrew Wakefield — who was later stripped of the title — published falsified research that appeared to show a link between the MMR shots and autism. In reality, no such link has been found. In 2010, The Lancet retracted the paper.

But the autism rumor has still been well and truly sown. It took root in the U.S., where Wakefield went on to relocate.

President-elect Donald Trump's pick to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., has long promoted the view that vaccines cause autism.

He is currently on leave from the position of chairman at an anti-vaccine activist organization called the "Children's Health Defense," which is known for spreading misinformation about health issues, including measles immunization, on social media.

---