Residents Urged to Protect Themselves and Their Children as Measles Cases Rise 

Residents Urged to Protect Themselves and Their Children as Measles Cases Rise 

Liverpool City Council, along with health partners in Merseyside and the UK, is calling on residents to verify their own and their children’s vaccination status due to a recent increase in measles cases in the region. Measles is a highly contagious viral infection that spreads through coughing, sneezing, and close contact, potentially leading to serious complications like pneumonia and meningitis. Vulnerable groups such as babies, pregnant women, and individuals with weakened immune systems are at higher risk.

The most effective way to safeguard against measles, mumps, and rubella is by receiving 2 doses of the MMR vaccine. This vaccine provides lifelong protection and is offered free of charge through the NHS. Typically, the first dose is administered at 12 months of age, with a second dose around three years and four months. Notably, children who missed their MMR vaccine can catch up at any age, and adults who have not been vaccinated are eligible for catch-up doses.

Symptoms of measles typically appear 7-10 days after exposure to the virus and may include cold-like symptoms, red, sore, watery eyes, a high fever, a non-itchy red-brown rash, and small white spots inside the cheeks and back of the lips. If someone suspects they or their child has measles, it is recommended to contact a GP or NHS 111 for guidance, avoid school or childcare, prevent contact with vulnerable groups, practice good hygiene, and seek further information on measles from the NHS website.

Professor Matt Ashton, Director of Public Health for Liverpool, emphasized the importance of vaccination against measles, mumps, and rubella for protection. Likewise, Nathan Askew, Chief Nurse at Alder Hey Children’s NHS Foundation Trust, highlighted the vulnerability of children and the necessity to shield them from severe illnesses like measles. Dr. Merav Kliner, Deputy Director for UKHSA North West, expressed concerns about declining childhood vaccine uptake globally, leading to significant measles outbreaks and underscoring the need for individuals to ensure their vaccination status, particularly when traveling to areas with endemic diseases

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