UK public health officials have warned there has been more than 100 cases of measles confirmed in the past week, as the outbreak in the West Midlands continues.
It comes as the health service in Ireland confirmed the death of an adult from measles. Irish media reported it was a man in his late forties who is believed to have travelled to Birmingham recently.
GPs and hospital doctors in Ireland were notified of the death which is the first confirmed case of measles in the country this year.
‘The HSE Health Protection Surveillance Centre has been notified of the death of an adult with confirmed measles, which took place in a hospital in the Dublin and Midlands Health Region,’ a statement from the Ireland health service said.
An update from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said in the past seven days a further 118 laboratory confirmed measles cases have been confirmed in England.
It brings the total number of cases confirmed since 1 October 2023 to 465, with a ‘disproportionately high rate’ continuing to be seen in the West Midlands.
There has been a sharp rise in case numbers over the last 6 weeks, mainly driven by cases in Birmingham, a UKHSA report said.
The ongoing outbreak around Birmingham prompted officials to declare a national incident last month over fears measles would spread to other areas without ‘urgent action’.
UKHSA chief executive Professor Dame Jenny Harries had warned of a ‘very real risk’ of the virus spreading in other towns and cities due to low vaccine uptake in some communities.
Overall, 71% of cases this winter have been in the West Midlands, but there have also been 62 confirmed cases in London and 32 in Yorkshire and The Humber, the figures show.
Two-thirds of confirmed cases are in children under the age of 10 and 25% (115 of 465) in young people and adults over the age of 15, UKHSA said.
The number of cases for is likely to increase as more suspected cases undergo confirmatory testing, the report noted.
Dr Vanessa Saliba, UKHSA Consultant Epidemiologist, said: ‘The measles outbreak in the West Midlands continues to be a concern.
‘MMR vaccine uptake has been falling over the last decade with 1 out of 10 children starting school in England not protected. Measles is highly infectious and there is a real risk it will spread to other areas.’
She added: ‘Parents should be aware that measles is a nasty illness for most children and sadly for some can be very serious and life changing, but it is completely preventable.
‘Vaccination is the best way to protect yourself and your children. I strongly urge parents to take up the offer as soon as possible and protect their child now.’
