Parents are being strongly urged to get their children immunised as measles continues to spread in the Stratford area.
The Health Protection Agency and NHS Warwickshire have now been notified of 27 suspected cases of measles; the majority of them in those aged under 10. Last year there were only 7 suspected cases of measles reported for the entire month of November.
In the whole of the West Midlands region, there have been 32 laboratory confirmed cases from January to September 2008.
Dr Huda Mohamed, Director for the Health Protection Agency in Warwickshire, said: We are on the cusp of a measles epidemic and we must do all we can to head it off by encouraging parents to immunise their children. The only sure way for an individual to avoid measles is to have two doses of MMR vaccine, preferably by age five, but at any age if people have been previously unvaccinated.
Measles is an unpleasant illness even in its mildest form. We, alongside colleagues in the NHS, are urging all parents to ensure that their children are adequately vaccinated against it.
The complications which can occur as a result of having measles can be severe, sometimes long lasting and on rare occasions can result in death. The safest way to avoid this is with two doses of the MMR vaccine.
The national target is for 95 per cent of children to be immunised with their first MMR jab just after their first birthday, with a second jab for pre-school youngsters.
However in Warwickshire the level of immunisation is below this national target and this is why measles is able to spread so rapidly. The latest figures for the county show that in South Warwickshire 85 per cent of all children aged five and under, will have had one dose of the vaccine but only 83.7 per cent of children will have the full protection afforded by two doses.
Children are given their first MMR vaccination at 13 months of age. A second dose is given at three years and four months of age.
Helen King, Acting Director of Public Health for Warwickshire, said: Its worrying that we potentially have 27 cases of measles in South Warwickshire, especially considering that there have only been 32 confirmed cases in the whole of the West Midlands this year so far. My fear is that we will see further outbreaks, here and elsewhere in the region. Our priority is to improve MMR uptake rates and stop the disease spreading.
Its never too late to get vaccinated: contact your GP to book a vaccination. It is essential children receive both doses of the MMR vaccine to ensure they are fully protected. It doesnt only protect your child - it also protects children who cant be immunised because of existing serious health problems like childhood cancers.
Public concerns about the safety of this vaccine are completely unfounded. MMR is proven to be safe and effective vaccine and is given to millions of children worldwide. Those children who have not been immunised are at risk of measles. Unless at least 95 per cent of children in a community are immunised, the disease will spread easily and quickly."
Measles is most common among children aged between one and four years of age but anyone who has not been immunised against the condition can catch it.
Complications of measles include pneumonia, ear and eye infections, and croup (an infection of the lungs and throat). More serious complications, such as inflammation of the brain (encephalitis) are rarer but can be fatal. There are one million deaths worldwide from measles every year. Children under two are most likely to be at risk from complications.
More information on the MMR vaccine can be found at www.immunisation.nhs.uk
If you would like information on childhood immunisation in general please speak to your GP, visit www.immunisation.nhs.uk, or call NHS Direct on 0845 4647.
