Parents warned of measles surge as schools return

Nearly one in 10 children in the region were not fully protected by the MMR jab, officials said

Health officials have urged parents to ensure their children catch up on missed vaccinations before returning to school amid fears of a further surge in measles cases.

The UK Health Security Agency South West - which covers Avon, Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Gloucestershire, Somerset and Wiltshire - said 28 measles cases had been confirmed in the region since 1 January.

It said a number of outbreaks across the country had led to the highest number of cases since 2012.

Nearly one in 10 children in the region were not fully protected by the MMR jab by the time they start school, the agency said.

'Nasty illness'

The agency warned measles could spread easily among unvaccinated people.

"It can be a very nasty illness and, in some children, can be very serious, leading to hospitalisation and life-long complications and tragically even death in rare cases," it said.

Prof Dominic Mellon, deputy director at the agency, said it was "tragic" to see kids suffering when the disease was "so easily preventable".

"It is encouraging that parents, whose children have missed vaccines are now coming forward, but we are a long way from ensuring all are protected and safe," he said.

"And importantly vaccination is also about not spreading the disease to others who may be more vulnerable.

"It only takes one case to get into a school or nursery where many children are unprotected for numbers to suddenly surge."