Warning issued to parents after number of measles cases in Greater Manchester

Parents are being warned to make sure their children are vaccinated amid cases of measles in Greater Manchester.

We reported earlier this month about a rise in cases, with new data from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) showing there were 49 lab-confirmed measles cases recorded in England between January 1 and April 20, 2023.

Now families in Salford are being urged to make sure children's vaccines are up to date after 'a small number' of cases confirmed locally.

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A letter from Gillian McLauchlan, the council's Director of Public Health, says: "Currently, there is an outbreak of measles in London with a small number of cases in Greater Manchester.

"The best way to protect your children and family from measles is to have 2 doses of the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine. This is available at your GP so I would urge you to check that your child or children have received their 2 doses of MMR."

Measles is a highly infectious disease that can lead to serious problems such as pneumonia, meningitis, and on rare occasions, long-term disability or death.

Children are offered the first dose of the MMR vaccine which protects against measles, mumps and rubella when they turn one and the second dose at three years and four months.

The UKHSA is also urging parents of young children, teenagers and adults to check that they are up to date with their MMR vaccines - particularly before they travel this summer.

Dr Sam Ghebrehewet, Deputy Director of Health Protection from UKHSA North West, said: “We’re calling on parents and guardians to make sure their children are up to date with their two MMR doses.

“Measles is a very infectious virus and can spread rapidly