West Midlands measles cases highest since 1990s

Health officials have warned the number of people with measles in the West Midlands is at its highest since at least the mid-1990s.

Figures released from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) showed the area had 133 cases since 1^st October, the highest number since the roll-out of the two-dose MMR jab, and there were also 96 “likely” cases in the same time period.

Dr Naveed Syed, health protection consultant at the UKHSA, said the outbreaks across the region were an “increasing problem”.

He went on to say “At the moment, we are seeing quite a number of outbreaks of measles unfortunately, throughout the West Midlands.

“It’s mainly concentrated in the Birmimgham area, but we do have cases in the Coventry area.”

Parts of the Black Country and Birmingham have among the lowest vaccination rates in the UK.

Dr Syed said “Fewer and fewer people” were receiving immunisations due to “various communities” holding “various beliefs around measles”.

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Posted by Karen Motley, Clinical Negligence Department, Chadwick Lawrence LLP (jacquelinevance@chadlaw.co.uk), medical negligence lawyers and clinical negligence solicitors in Huddersfield, Leeds, Wakefield and Halifax, West Yorkshire.

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