Measles Outbreak in UK

In the Liverpool area of England, there has been an outbreak of measles with more than 200 cases reported. Those in the US who have chosen not to vaccinate their children and put them at risk should be worried. In the US last year, we had a total of 222 confirmed measles cases of which 90% of them were caused by importations.

Dr Roberto Vivancos, a Health Protection Agency consultant, said: “It’s obvious from these statistics that people who are not fully vaccinated are not just at risk themselves, but they pose an infection risk to others, such as defenceless babies and toddlers who are too young to be vaccinated.

“Measles is a very infectious illness that spreads rapidly amongst children and adults who are not protected by MMR vaccine.

“It is also a serious illness that can lead to serious complications. On rare occasions, people die from measles.

“It should not be treated lightly, but it is an avoidable illness and we strongly advise parents to ensure that their children are vaccinated.”