Health authorities are working hard to stem an alarming wave of measles across England after the death of a child was confirmed.
More than 2,000 cases have already been recorded in 2024 – the largest outbreak in more than a decade.
But only half of children have received both doses of the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine, credited with saving the lives of tens of thousands of children in some parts of London.
Similarly low levels are also seen in Liverpool, Manchester and Birmingham.
The boy, who has not been identified, is believed to have died in the first quarter of this year from subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE), a slowly progressing inflammation of the brain caused by measles.
Cold-like symptoms such as fever, cough, and a runny or stuffy nose are often the first sign of measles. A few days later, some people develop small white spots on the inside of their cheeks and the back of their lips. The characteristic measles rash also appears, usually starting on the face and behind the ears before spreading to the rest of the body.
Surveillance figures from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) show a further 78 cases have been confirmed in England in the past fortnight.
This brings the total number of cases nationwide this year to 2,465.
Children aged 10 or younger account for almost two-thirds (1,513) of these.
Health officials said the West Midlands remains the heart of the outbreak, with 358 cases centred in the Birmingham area by 2024.
London followed, recording 172 in Lambeth and 145 in Wandsworth respectively this year.
PennsylvaniaParents have been urged to check that their children have received both doses of the vaccine.
Without both doses of the MMR vaccine, experts warn, they risk becoming seriously ill from the extremely contagious virus and infecting others.
Measles, which causes flu-like symptoms in addition to the characteristic rash, can cause very serious and even fatal health complications if it spreads to the lungs or brain.
It is estimated that one in five infected children will be hospitalized and one in 15 will develop serious complications such as meningitis or sepsis.
Dr Vanessa Saliba, consultant epidemiologist at UKHSA, said: ‘Measles is preventable with two doses of the MMR vaccine, but many thousands of children across the country are still unvaccinated and may be at risk of serious illness or lifelong complications.
No parent wants this for their child. Don’t put it off, act today so we can ensure all children receive the best protection.
‘With measles continuing to circulate in England and sadly a death in a young person, ensuring timely vaccination has never been more important.
‘The MMR vaccine offers the best protection against measles and, more importantly, vaccination also helps prevent transmission of the disease to others who may be more vulnerable.
‘Our thoughts and condolences are with the family who have so tragically lost their son.’
Two doses of the MMR vaccine offer up to 99 percent protection against the trio of diseases, which can cause meningitis, hearing loss and problems during pregnancy.
According to public health guidelines, at least 95 percent of the population should be vaccinated to prevent outbreaks.
The latest data from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) shows there were 1,603 suspected cases of measles in England and Wales in 2023. The figure is more than double the 735 recorded in 2022 and a nearly five-fold increase compared to the 360 cases reported in 2021.
In England, 89.3% of two-year-olds received their first dose of MMR vaccine in the year to March 2023 (blue line), up from 89.2% the previous year. Meanwhile, 88.7% of two-year-olds received both doses, up from 89% the previous year.
But nationally, the proportion of five-year-olds who have received all doses of the vaccine has fallen to 84.5 percent, the lowest level in more than a decade.
The latest NHS digital report also shows that up to four in ten children in some parts of England have not received both doses of the MMR vaccine by the time they turn five.
Only 56.3 per cent of children of that age in Hackney, east London, were fully protected against measles, mumps and rubella in 2022/23.
After Hackney came Camden (63.6 percent) and Enfield (64.8 percent).
Outside London, the lowest uptake rates for both doses among five-year-olds were recorded in Liverpool (73.6 per cent), Manchester (74.5 per cent) and Birmingham (75.1 per cent).
Acceptance of the MMR vaccine collapsed in the late 1990s and early 2000s in the wake of a 1998 study by now-discredited physician Andrew Wakefield that falsely linked vaccines to autism.
Last month, NHS bosses renewed calls for parents to make sure their children catch up on missed vaccinations before returning to school, amid fears of a rise in measles cases.
The health service says people should check their vaccination history and catch up on missed doses with their GP or at a pop-up clinic.
Major measles outbreaks in the West Midlands, the North West and London over the past year have seen cases soar to a ten-year high.