Information on the latest outbreaks and what you can do
The latest update from The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) shows that outbreaks of measles are continuing to rise, with 25% (19/75) of cases in the North West in the last 4 weeks. The majority (276/420, 66%) of these cases since January were in children aged 10 years and under, but there are also cases being reported in young people and adults.
Outbreaks have also been seen in popular holiday destinations across Europe, including France, Italy, Spain and Germany, and WHO recently reported that Romania, Pakistan, India, Thailand, Indonesia and Nigeria currently have among the largest number of measles cases worldwide.
The Agency is concerned, that with increased travelling for holidays or to visit family this summer, there is a risk this could lead to another surge of measles cases in England. The best protection is to get vaccinated with the MMR vaccine.
We’d therefore like to remind our community to:
- Check your vaccination status: You were likely offered the MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccine as a child. If you are not sure whether you received it, check with someone who has knowledge of your medical history. This could be a family member or caregiver, or your GP, who should have a record of your vaccinations
- Get protected: If you haven’t been vaccinated against measles, contact your GP to arrange vaccination. If you don’t have a GP, you can register at the on-campus GP practice or find a GP near to your home.