Dozens of people have contracted measles in the country’s virus hotspots in the past month, official figures show.
London, the epicenter of the outbreak, has recorded 59 suspected cases of the highly contagious virus since November 27. However, the incidents are spread across the capital’s 32 districts.
Birmingham, which is currently dealing with its biggest outbreak since the 1990s, has reported 48 infections, MailOnline’s analysis shows.
Experts say low uptake of the MMR vaccine, which protects 99 percent of people from the virus, has led to a resurgence of the disease, which can be fatal.
The NHS launched a catch-up campaign today, with pop-up clinics in schools and letters sent to millions of people in the hope of boosting vaccination rates.
Health leaders today warned there is a ‘very real risk’ of new outbreaks across the country and urged people to come forward for jabs as soon as possible.
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The latest data from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) shows that there were 1,603 suspected cases of measles in England and Wales in 2023. This figure is more than double the 735 in 2022 and an almost fivefold increase compared to the 360 reported cases. in 2021
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) publishes weekly notifications of infectious diseases (NOIDs) in England and Wales.
Data for the six weeks to January 7 shows that, after London and Birmingham, suspected measles cases were highest in Coventry (15), Sheffield (10), Wigan and Solihull (6).
Within London, suspected cases were highest in Brent (6), Ealing (6) and Harrow (4).
So far this year, 64 cases have been discovered. Yet this is based on just one week of data.
It means that the measles toll so far this year is seven times higher than in the first week of 2023.
Throughout 2023, 1,603 suspected cases of measles were recorded in England and Wales.
The figure is more than double the 735 cases reported in 2022 and an almost fivefold increase compared to the 360 cases reported in 2021.
The UKHSA collects data from medical professionals who are required to report suspected cases of certain infectious diseases, such as measles, smallpox and whooping cough.
About 180 local authorities have not recorded a single case.
The agency warned last week that the West Midlands, a measles hotspot, recorded 216 confirmed cases and 103 probable cases between October 1 and January 18.
Around 80 per cent of cases were detected in Birmingham, while around 10 per cent were in Coventry. Most were among children under 10 years old.
The UKHSA last week labeled the situation a national incident, an internal mechanism signaling the growing risk to public health.
Dame Jenny Harries, the chief executive of the UKHSA, warned that outbreaks will spread to other towns and cities unless uptake of the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine increases.
The injection is given in two doses – at one year of age, then at three years and four months – and provides lifelong protection.
At least 95 percent of the population must be vaccinated to prevent outbreaks, guided by public health. However, in England, uptake is only 84.5 percent.
In some areas with larger ethnic minority populations, this figure falls much lower, to around 70 percent, making these areas more susceptible to outbreaks.
Measles can be contracted at any age and can be fatal. Complications include blindness, deafness, and swelling of the brain (encephalitis).
It is estimated that one in five children who become infected will need to be hospitalized for treatment.
Analysis shows that if just one child in a classroom is infected, they can pass the virus on to up to nine other unvaccinated children, making it one of the most contagious diseases in the world and more contagious than Covid.
If pregnant women become infected, the virus can cause stillbirth, miscarriage and a low birth weight baby.
People who have missed the injections as part of the child vaccination schedule can catch up at any time by contacting their GP practice. This can also inform them whether they have already had both injections.
Some may also be able to check their status online or via the NHS app.
In England, 89.3 percent of two-year-olds received their first dose of the MMR vaccine in the year to March 2023 (blue line), compared to 89.2 percent the year before. Meanwhile, 88.7 percent of two-year-olds had both doses, up from 89 percent a year earlier
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More than 300 cases have been diagnosed in the West Midlands since October. Fifty children needing treatment for the virus have also been treated at Birmingham Children’s Hospital (pictured) in the past month
Due to the unprecedented outbreak, the NHS today said it has set up pop-up clinics in schools and other locations to make it easier for people to get vaccinated.
It has also sent letters to parents of six to 11-year-olds in England, urging them to make an appointment with their GP if their child has not had both doses.
They have also sent reminders to 1 million people aged 11 to 25 in London and the West Midlands, encouraging them to report bullying if they haven’t already done so.
However, the agency has not yet provided further details on whether the catch-up campaign will be pushed to 11 to 25-year-olds in other areas. People in London and the West Midlands are expected to be contacted via text messages, emails and letters.
The downward trend has been blamed on the discredited Dr Andrew Wakefield, who wrongly linked the MMR injection to autism in the 1990s.
MMR uptake in England was around 91 percent before his paper, but fell to 80 percent in subsequent years. His study has since been withdrawn and Dr. Wakefield was dropped.
A rise in anti-vaxx views in the wake of Covid may also have fueled the crisis, experts say.
Dr. Jenny Harries, chief executive of the UKHSA, urged those born between 1998 and 2004 to check their vaccination status and turn to reliable sources, such as the NHS website, to avoid misinformation.
“It’s clear that there is misinformation out there, and people are looking at different sources that they think are reliable sources,” Dr Harries said.
‘We used to direct people to the NHS website or the UKHSA website, which is a reliable source of information.’
Steve Russell, NHS director of vaccinations and screening, said: ‘People who have not been vaccinated can get catch-up jabs at MMR pop-ups in schools and other suitable places, while GPs, teachers and trusted community leaders are encouraging groups who are less likely to to do that. get their shot to come forward.
‘All this builds on the national MMR catch-up campaign that the NHS rolled out at the start of winter, with text, email and letter reminders sent to parents and guardians of children up to the age of five who do not yet have full protection to get.
‘Measles is a serious disease; one in five children who develop the disease need to be hospitalized for treatment. If you or your child have not yet had the MMR injection, it is crucial that you register.’
Professor Mike Tildesley, an expert in infectious disease modeling at the University of Warwick, said the following measles vaccinations in children helped Britain eradicate the disease.
He said: ‘Unfortunately, as vaccination levels fall, we will see case numbers rise. That’s what we’re currently seeing: according to NHS data, around 85 per cent of children got their second MMR jab at age 5 by 2022/23, which is much lower than needed and this is quite variable in different parts of the world. country, with lower rates in some places, and that is a concern.”