Health officials in the United Kingdom have sounded the alarm over a potential surge of measles across the country, as the brain-swelling disease is spreading at popular holiday spots. According to the UK Health Security Agency, cases across Europe reached their highest level in almost three decades last year.
UKHSA has now warned those who travelled abroad that contagious diseases may drive up cases at home. A dip in childhood vaccinations, including those that protect against measles, is leaving the kids more at risk of disease.
The health agency has urged families to make sure their kids are up to date with their vaccines before going on holiday—receiving two doses of the measles, mumps, and rubella, or MMR, jab. According to the World Health Organisation, there were more than 127,350 cases of measles in Europe last year. This was double the amount reported in 2023 and the highest number since 1997.
According to the UKHSA, so far this year, outbreaks have been documented in France, Italy, Spain, and Germany. “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,” UKHSA said recently in a statement. "Measles is one of the most highly infectious diseases and spreads rapidly among those who are unvaccinated," it stressed.
What is measles?
Measles is a highly contagious illness that causes widespread rash and flu-like symptoms. According to doctors, it can make you severely ill and lead to life-threatening complications like brain inflammation and pneumonia. It can also make you more likely to get sick with other infections.
Before it was part of routine childhood immunizations, measles caused millions of deaths around the world.
- High fever
- Barky cough
- Red and bloodshot eyes
- Runny nose
- Tiredness
- Red spots with white centers in your mouth
- Rashes
- Digestive symptoms like diarrhoea, stomach pain, and vomiting
- Sore throat
- Muscle pain
- Headaches
The symptoms of measles do not appear all at once. A fever, cough, runny nose, and red eyes may appear first. Koplik’s spots might appear two to three days later and fade when the rash begins. The rash appears three to five days after your initial symptoms start. A high fever may develop with the rash.
What causes measles?
Doctors say the measles virus—morbillivirus—causes this highly contagious condition. It is an airborne disease, which means it spreads through the air when an infected person breathes, coughs, sneezes, or talks. The airborne droplets can remain in a room for two hours even after the person with measles is gone. Droplets can also land on surfaces you touch.
Measles can spread by:
Source: Times Now.
