British Parents Advised to Boost Measles Vaccinations

Data recently published by the U.K. Health Security Agency (UKHSA) shows a rise in measles cases related to under-vaccinations in England.

Between January and April 2023, there have been 49 measles cases confirmed in the U.K. compared to 54 for all of 2022.

Most measles cases have been in London; some are linked to international travel.

The measles virus is easy to catch in closed environments such as airplanes.

In recent years, the number of children vaccinated against measles has fallen in England, says the UKHSA on May 4, 2023.

The uptake for the first dose of the MMR vaccine in children is about 89%.

Measles infections can lead to severe problems such as pneumonia. Symptoms include a high fever, sore red, watery eyes, and a blotchy red-brown rash.

Measles cases worldwide increased by about 80% during 2022 compared with 2021.

To alert international travelers, the U.S. CDC published a global Watch-Level 1, Practice Usual Precautions notice on April 6, 2023, regarding measles outbreaks in various countries.

The CDC's top ten global measles outbreaks, as of May 2023, were led by India, with about 68,000 cases.

In the U.S., measles vaccines are generally available at clinics and community pharmacies.