Urgent warning amid outbreak of deadly kids’ virus as doctors urge parents to ‘act now’
MILLIONS of children across the world are at serious risk of catching a dangerous and sometimes fatal disease, experts have warned.
Measles, an infection that spreads very easily that can be fatal for young children, is on the rise globally.
The virus, which can lead to serious brain and lung issues, is entirely preventable through the MMR vaccine.
However, it requires 95 per cent vaccine coverage to prevent outbreaks among populations.
And according to the vaccine coverage has plummeted during the pandemic, leaving millions of children open to infection.
A record high of nearly 40million children missed a measles vaccine dose in 2021 due to hurdles created by the Covid pandemic, the .
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Last year alone, twenty-two countries experienced large and disruptive outbreaks, the report said.
UK cases of measles have surged by 188 per cent in the within the last month, between the 16 October to the 20 November, according to Government data.
While measles cases have not yet gone up dramatically compared to previous years, now is the time to act, the WHO’s measles lead, Doctor Patrick O’Connor, .
WHO called for health officials to "ensure vaccinations are available to all".
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The report estimates that in 2021, around 128,000 people died of measles globally.
In the UK all adults and children over the age of six months are able to get a MMR vaccination to ward off the illness.
The NHS advises: “It’s never too late for your children (or yourself) to ‘catch up’ with MMR vaccination if they missed it earlier.
“Children up to the age of 18 and adults without immunity should have a catch-up MMR vaccination.”
In January 2022, parents were urged to get their kids vaccinated - with youngsters risk of catching the deadly disease on the rise.
What are the symptoms of measles?
Approximately 10 days after the illness is contracted, signs become noticeable.
The NHS outlines the initial symptoms of measles…
- cold-like symptoms, such as a runny nose, sneezing, and a cough
- sore, red eyes that may be sensitive to light
- a high temperature (fever), which may reach around 40C (104F)
- small greyish-white spots on the inside of the cheeks
A few days after these flu-like symptoms manifest, a rash often begins to appear.
Distinctive red-brown blotches spring up on the body, typically beginning at the upper neck and spreading downwards.
Severe complications can occur, including miscarriage in pregnant women, brain swelling and the risk of death from pneumonia.
Earlier this year, the UK Health Security Agency warned one in 10 children starting school could catch the virus because vaccination levels are at a 10-year low.
While the infectious condition often clears up in under two weeks, it can sometimes lead to life-threatening complications.
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Although measles can affect people of any age, and we have seen outbreaks among university students in recent years, it is most common in young children.
Instances of measles have been rising in the UK in recent years.