Latest news with #DrVanessaSaliba
BBC News
4 days ago
- Health
- BBC News
Measles warning for holidaymakers heading to Europe
Families travelling abroad this summer on holiday or to visit relatives are being warned about the rise in measles cases in Europe and other infections in Europe are at a 25-year high, while cases are also surging in countries such as Pakistan and vaccination rates in the UK that offer protection against measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) are still a long way below the recommended 95% uptake, with the lowest regional rates found in London at just over 73% UK Health Security Agency is warning holidaymakers to make sure they are up to date with their vaccinations and stress that it is never too late to get vaccinated. The UKHSA's latest data on measles infections shows that an outbreak is continuing in 109 cases were confirmed in April and 86 so far in May. These cases have mostly been in unvaccinated children aged 10 years and under. London has reported almost half of all cases in the past four Vanessa Saliba, consultant epidemiologist at the UK Health Security Agency, says the rise in cases in England reflects what is happening abroad - and that's a concern as the summer holiday season gets going. "It's essential that everyone, particularly parents of young children, check all family members are up to date with two MMR doses, especially if you are travelling this summer for holidays or visiting family," Dr Saliba said."Measles cases are picking up again in England and outbreaks are happening in Europe and many countries with close links to the UK."Measles spreads very easily and can be a nasty disease, leading to complications like ear and chest infections and inflammation of the brain with some children tragically ending up in hospital and suffering life-long consequences. "Nobody wants this for their child and it's not something you want to experience when away on holiday." European cases hit a 25-year high The decline in vaccination rates in the UK - particularly since the Covid pandemic - has been mirrored in other countries, especially in Europe. The World Health Organization and UNICEF reported 127,350 measles cases in the European Region in 2024 - double the number of cases reported during the previous year and the highest number since year has seen outbreaks in several other European countries popular with UK holidaymakers, including France, Italy, Spain and WHO has also reported that Romania, Pakistan, India, Thailand, Indonesia and Nigeria currently have among the largest number of measles cases worldwide. Never too late There has been a big push to improve MMR vaccination rates across the UK, but Dr Amanda Doyle, national director for primary care and community services at NHS England, says there is still a lot of work to do."Too many babies and young children are still not protected against the diseases, which are contagious infections that spread very easily and can cause serious health problems. "MMR jabs are provided free as part of the NHS routine immunisation programme – and I would encourage all parents to act on invites or check vaccination records if they think they may have missed their child's vaccination."Health experts say that anyone, whatever their age, who has not had two doses of the MMR vaccine can contact their GP surgery to book an appointment and that it is never too late to catch up.
Telegraph
5 days ago
- General
- Telegraph
Warning over measles risk during school holidays
Parents are being urged to make sure their children are vaccinated against measles ahead of the summer holidays as an outbreak continues to spread across the UK. Measles is one of the most contagious diseases in the world, but two doses of the MMR vaccine during childhood can offer lifelong protection. However, uptake of the vaccine is below recommended levels, and cases have been rising in the UK. Young children have the first dose when they are one year old and the second between three years and four months and five years of age. There have been 420 cases in England so far this year, with 86 last month, figures from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) reveal. Two thirds of the cases were in children under 10, and almost 40 per cent were in London. The capital has the lowest vaccination percentage in the country, with more than a quarter of the population going without full protection. Officials are concerned that the infection, which can lead to serious complications, spreads easily through the air via sneezes, coughs and exhalations. They said it could see an uptick when schools break up for the summer and children mingle during the holidays. Measles has an estimated 'R' number of around 18, which means that on average a single infected person passes the infection on to 18 others. Covid has a natural 'R' number of about three. Dr Vanessa Saliba, a consultant epidemiologist at the UKHSA, said: 'It's essential that everyone, particularly parents of young children, check all family members are up to date with two MMR doses, especially if you are travelling this summer for holidays or visiting family. 'Measles cases are picking up again in England, and outbreaks are happening in Europe and many countries with close links to the UK. 'Measles spreads very easily and can be a nasty disease, leading to complications like ear and chest infections and inflammation of the brain, with some children tragically ending up in hospital and suffering life-long consequences. Nobody wants this for their child, and it's not something you want to experience when away on holiday.' People who have the two doses of the MMR vaccine, which are safe and effective, are not only protecting themselves but also helping protect others who are unvaccinated, such as young babies. Health officials said parents could check their child's 'red book', a national record given to parents or carers at birth to document a child's health and development, to see if they are fully protected. Adults can also check their own vaccination status by contacting their GP or checking in the NHS app, although not everyone's complete immunisation data is live on the app. The UKHSA said that cases in Europe had reached their highest level in almost three decades last year. A global increase in measles has led the agency to say it is concerned that this could mean people bring back the contagious disease to England after travelling over the summer. There were more than 127,000 cases of measles in Europe last year, according to global health leaders, the highest number since 1997. So far this year, outbreaks have been documented in France, Italy, Spain and Germany. Romania, Pakistan, India, Thailand, Indonesia and Nigeria currently have among the largest number of measles cases worldwide, according to a recent report by the World Health Organisation. Dr Amanda Doyle, the national director for primary care and community services at NHS England, said: 'The recent increase in cases seen in England and Europe should act as an important reminder to ensure your child is protected. 'Too many babies and young children are still not protected against the diseases, which are contagious infections that spread very easily and can cause serious health problems. 'MMR jabs are provided free as part of the NHS routine immunisation programme, and I would encourage all parents to act on invites or check vaccination records if they think they may have missed their child's vaccination.'
Daily Mail
5 days ago
- General
- Daily Mail
Health chiefs' urgent warning over record highs of deadly measles - are YOU in a hotspot?
Britons have been urged to get vaccinated against lethal measles as experts warn of an expected wave in the coming weeks. In some parts of England cases of the potentially deadly virus are already approaching those seen in the whole of 2024, which was the worst outbreak in over decade. For example, in Bristol 47 cases have been recorded so far in 2025, compared to 53 for the whole of last year. Now, officials from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) warn the situation could get worse as British families head to Europe for their summer holidays. Measles cases on the continent have reached their highest level in 25 years, and there are fears unvaccinated Britons could catch the bug overseas and then spread it upon returning home. In a new alert, UKHSA said more parents failing to get their children the measles vaccine is leaving England at greater risk of outbreaks of the disease with thousands now unprotected. Officials urged families to check they have had both shots of the MMR jab before jetting off, with measles outbreaks having been recorded in holiday favourites like France, Italy, Spain and Germany. There were more than 127,000 cases of measles in Europe last year, the highest level since 1997. UKHSA consultant epidemiologist Dr Vanessa Saliba warned: 'Measles cases are picking up again in England and outbreaks are happening in Europe and many countries with close links to the UK. 'Measles spreads very easily and can be a nasty disease, leading to complications like ear and chest infections and inflammation of the brain, with some children tragically ending up in hospital and suffering life-long consequences. 'Nobody wants this for their child and it's not something you want to experience when away on holiday.' Since the start of the year 420 cases of measles have been recorded in England, though UKHSA says this is likely an underestimate due to delays with reporting. The vast majority of recorded cases, two thirds, have been in children under 10—the majority of which were unvaccinated. By local area Bristol is the epicentre of the current outbreak accounting for just over a tenth of all cases. But by region London, where almost half of children in some boroughs aren't vaccinated against measles, accounted for the most cases at 162. Last year was the worst in a decade for measles in England with almost 3,000 cases recorded, the highest level seen since 2012. Dr Amanda Doyle, NHS England's national director for primary care and community services, said it was never too late for parents to get their child vaccinated. 'The recent increase in cases seen in England and Europe should act as an important reminder to ensure your child is protected,' she said. Measles is a highly contagious, and sometimes fatal, disease. Experts estimate it is capable of infecting nine out of 10 unvaccinated children in a classroom if just one classmate is infectious. Measles symptoms are typically cold and flu-like such as a fever, cough and a runny nose followed by a rash that develops a few days later. More rarely it triggers serious complications like sepsis, pneumonia and brain swelling which can lead to long-term disability and even death. One in five children who catch measles will need to go to hospital, with one in 15 developing these serious complications. UKHSA warning comes after two children in the US died from measles earlier this year. Both were unvaccinated and represented the first deaths from measles in the nation since 2015, with an adult also now confirmed to have died. Experts say two doses of the MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccine is enough to offer 99 per cent protection from the virus. But uptake is far below the 95 per cent level recommended by the World Health Organisation to protect children from infection. London has the lowest MMR uptake in England with just 73 per cent of children getting two doses, though this falls to about half in some boroughs. Uptake of the jab across England is estimated to be 84 per cent, meaning about one in six children aren't protected. In the UK, the first MMR vaccine dose is normally given when a child is about a year old with a booster then before they start school, usually around three--and-a-half-years-of-age. Uptake of the jab collapsed in the wake of study by the now discredited medic Andrew Wakefield which falsely linked the jabs to autism. MMR uptake in England was about 91 per cent prior to Wakefield's study being published but plummeted to around 80 per cent in the aftermath. People who want to check their MMR vaccine status are advised to speak to their GP. UKHSA estimates the measles vaccine has prevented 20million cases and 4,500 deaths in the UK since it was originally rolled out in 1968. In 1995, gastroenterologist Andrew Wakefield published a study in The Lancet showing children who had been vaccinated against MMR were more likely to have bowel disease and autism. He speculated that being injected with a 'dead' form of the measles virus via vaccination causes disruption to intestinal tissue, leading to both of the disorders. After a 1998 paper further confirmed this finding, Wakefield said: 'The risk of this particular syndrome [what Wakefield termed 'autistic enterocolitis'] developing is related to the combined vaccine, the MMR, rather than the single vaccines.' At the time, Wakefield had a patent for single measles, mumps and rubella vaccines, and was therefore accused of having a conflict of interest. Nonetheless, MMR vaccination rates in the US and the UK plummeted, until, in 2004, the editor of The Lancet Dr Richard Horton described Wakefield's research as 'fundamentally flawed', adding he was paid by a group pursuing lawsuits against vaccine manufacturers. The Lancet formally retracted Wakefield's research paper in 2010. Three months later, the General Medical Council banned Wakefield from practising medicine in Britain, stating his research had shown a 'callous disregard' for children's health. On January 6 2011, The British Medical Journal published a report showing that of the 12 children included in Wakefield's 1995 study, at most two had autistic symptoms post vaccination, rather than the eight he claimed. At least two of the children also had developmental delays before they were vaccinated, yet Wakefield's paper claimed they were all 'previously normal'. Further findings revealed none of the children had autism, non-specific colitis or symptoms within days of receiving the MMR vaccine, yet the study claimed six of the participants suffered all three.
The Independent
5 days ago
- Health
- The Independent
Concerns raised over measles risk as families take summer breaks in Europe
Health experts have sounded the alarm over a potential rise in measles as families take their summer breaks across Europe. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said that cases in Europe had reached their highest level in almost three decades last year. It warned that a decline in childhood vaccinations – including the jab that protects against measles – in England leaves more children at risk of disease. UKHSA urged families planning for their summer holidays to check their vaccination status before travelling, and to make sure particularly that they had had two doses of the MMR vaccine, which protects against measles, mumps and rubella. As well as a rise in cases across Europe, health experts warned of continuing pockets of cases in England, particularly London. 'It's essential that everyone, particularly parents of young children, check all family members are up to date with two MMR doses, especially if you are travelling this summer for holidays or visiting family,' said UKHSA consultant epidemiologist Dr Vanessa Saliba. 'Measles cases are picking up again in England and outbreaks are happening in Europe and many countries with close links to the UK. 'Measles spreads very easily and can be a nasty disease, leading to complications like ear and chest infections and inflammation of the brain, with some children tragically ending up in hospital and suffering life-long consequences. 'Nobody wants this for their child and it's not something you want to experience when away on holiday. 'The MMR vaccine is the best way to protect yourself and your family from measles. 'It is never too late to catch up, if you're not sure if any of your family are up to date, check their Red Book or contact your GP practice. Don't put it off and regret it later.' Dr Amanda Doyle, from NHS England, said: 'The recent increase in cases seen in England and Europe should act as an important reminder to ensure your child is protected. 'MMR jabs are provided free as part of the NHS routine immunisation programme – and I would encourage all parents to act on invites or check vaccination records if they think they may have missed their child's vaccination.' New figures from the UKHSA show that in England there were 109 cases of measles confirmed in April and 86 in May, with most cases among unvaccinated children, although there have been some cases among unvaccinated young people and adults. Half of the cases in the last four weeks were in London, with outbreaks also seen in the North West and the West Midlands, it added. Meanwhile, a global increase in measles, including Europe, has led the agency to say it is concerned that this could mean people bring back the contagious disease to England after travel this summer. There were more than 127,000 cases of measles in Europe last year, according to global health leaders, the highest number since 1997. And UKHSA said that so far this year, outbreaks have been documented in France, Italy, Spain and Germany. The health authority said that it is 'concerned that more outbreaks may occur again on a larger scale this summer as families with unvaccinated children and adults travel to countries where there are outbreaks'. The World Health Organisation (WHO) recently reported that Romania, Pakistan, India, Thailand, Indonesia and Nigeria currently have among the largest number of measles cases worldwide. The UKHSA said that the decline in uptake of childhood vaccinations during the past decade means that 'many thousands of children are left unprotected'. Measles is highly infectious and can lead to serious complications. People with this infection have a number of cold and flu-like symptoms and a rash appears a few days after symptoms start. On rare occasions, measles can also lead to meningitis and brain swelling, which can cause long-term disabilities or even death.
The Independent
5 days ago
- General
- The Independent
UK issues measles warning to holidaymakers as cases surge in Europe
Health experts have warned measles cases could potentially rise in the UK this summer due to outbreaks in popular holiday destinations in Europe. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said that cases in Europe had reached more than 127,000, their highest level in almost three decades, last year. With outbreaks already documented in France, Italy, Spain and Germany, the organisation raised the alarm that people might bring back the contagious disease to England after travelling this summer. The health authority warned that declining rates of childhood vaccinations - including the Measles Mumps and Rubella jab - in England means more children are at risk of the disease. It urged families planning for their summer holidays to check their vaccination status before travelling, and to make sure particularly that they had had two doses of the MMR vaccine, which protects against measles, mumps and rubella. Measles, a highly infectious disease, has a number of cold and flu-like symptoms, with many infected people developing a rash. On rare occasions, it can lead to serious complications such as meningitis and brain swelling, which can lead to long-term disabilities or even death. UKHSA consultant epidemiologist Dr Vanessa Saliba said: 'It's essential that everyone, particularly parents of young children, check all family members are up to date with two MMR doses, especially if you are travelling this summer for holidays or visiting family'. 'Measles cases are picking up again in England and outbreaks are happening in Europe and many countries with close links to the UK. 'Measles spreads very easily and can be a nasty disease, leading to complications like ear and chest infections and inflammation of the brain, with some children tragically ending up in hospital and suffering life-long consequences. 'Nobody wants this for their child and it's not something you want to experience when away on holiday. 'The MMR vaccine is the best way to protect yourself and your family from measles. 'It is never too late to catch up, if you're not sure if any of your family are up to date, check their Red Book or contact your GP practice. Don't put it off and regret it later.' Not only are cases rising in Europe, health experts have warned there continue to be pockets of cases in England, particularly in the capital. New figures from the UKHSA show that in England there were 109 cases of measles confirmed in April and 86 in May, with most cases among unvaccinated children. There have been some cases among unvaccinated young people and adults. Half of the cases in the last four weeks were in London, with outbreaks also seen in the North West and the West Midlands, according to the report. Dr Amanda Doyle, from NHS England, said: 'The recent increase in cases seen in England and Europe should act as an important reminder to ensure your child is protected. 'MMR jabs are provided free as part of the NHS routine immunisation programme – and I would encourage all parents to act on invites or check vaccination records if they think they may have missed their child's vaccination.' The health authority has said that it is 'concerned that more outbreaks may occur again on a larger scale this summer as families with unvaccinated children and adults travel to countries where there are outbreaks'. The World Health Organisation (WHO) recently reported that Romania, Pakistan, India, Thailand, Indonesia and Nigeria currently have among the largest number of measles cases worldwide. The UKHSA said that the decline in uptake of childhood vaccinations during the past decade means that 'many thousands of children are left unprotected'.
