Latest measles cases published as part of national catch-up programme

Measles

The first monthly confirmed case data for Greater Manchester is published today, as part of the national MMR catch –up programme. The figures show a further 54 cases of the preventable, infectious disease, on top of 80 cases from January to March this year.

In England there were 288 cases in April, bringing the total number so far in 2013 to 962. This continues the trend seen since early 2012 with monthly totals around the highest recorded levels seen since 1994. The regions most affected continue to be the North West and North East where there have been outbreaks of the infection.

In line with trends across the country, the number of cases of measles has continued to rise in Greater Manchester. Up to the end of April, 153 cases were confirmed, following a total of 159 cases in 2012. (See notes in editors for breakdown by local authority).

The national catch-up programme to increase MMR vaccination uptake in children and teenagers who are unvaccinated has so far resulted in more than 95 per cent of GP practices across England ordering additional doses of the vaccine – more than 200,000 extra in total.

The catch-up programme, run by Public Health England, NHS England, the Department of Health, and local authorities, aims to prevent measles outbreaks by giving MMR to as many unvaccinated and partially vaccinated 10-16 year olds as possible.

This age group are most at risk of measles due to the fall in coverage of MMR that occurred in the late 1990s and early 2000s when concern around the discredited link between autism and the vaccine was widespread.

During this period, vaccination uptake fell to as low as 80 per cent in 2005, with lower rates in some parts of the country. Today MMR coverage among five year olds in England is at its highest recorded levels, with 94 per cent receiving one dose and 90 per cent receiving two doses.

Professor Martyn Regan, PHE Greater Manchester Centre Director said: “Our ambition is to vaccinate 95 per cent of 10-16 year olds in time for the next school year. Local public health teams have been working hard to encourage uptake with children and teenagers Greater Manchester.

"The message to parents who think their child may not be fully immunised is to check today and book an appointment with your GP. The vaccine is there ready to be used and could save your child’s life. Measles is a serious illness and can lead to serious complications, including hospitalisation in more than one in five cases among teens this year.

“We are getting regular feedback from the local NHS teams about what is happening on the ground and are encouraged by the very high levels of involvement by GP practices across Greater Manchester.

"We will shortly be getting results from a new monitoring system that will tell us the number of vaccines given to children.”