12
Mar 2019
Sharp increase in measles cases reported in Greater Manchester
Following a sharp increase in cases of measles in Greater Manchester, doctors have urged people in the region to ensure that they and their children are vaccinated against the virus.
Measles is a highly contagious virus which, in severe cases, can develop into complications, including pneumonia, infection and swelling of the brain, and blindness.
So far this year, 32 confirmed cases have been reported by Public Health England in Greater Manchester, although at the end of January only five cases had been confirmed.
In recent years, experts have warned that a rise in measles cases could be linked to the controversy around the MMR vaccine, which is used to vaccinate people against it.
Professor Dame Sally Davies has maintained the vaccine is safe, adding that uptake of the vaccination was “not good enough” and urging parents to ignore “social media fake news”.
Speaking of the increase in cases, Dr Kristina Poole of Public Health England North West said “The majority of the cases are in unvaccinated children.”
She added that the vaccine both offered protection to individuals against the virus and also reduced its spread across the community, saying “MMR is a highly effective and safe vaccine.”
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Posted by Karen Motley, Clinical Negligence Department, Chadwick Lawrence LLP (tonymay@chadlaw.co.uk ), medical negligence lawyers and clinical negligence solicitors in Huddersfield, Leeds, Wakefield and Halifax, West Yorkshire.
Freephone : 0800 304 738
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