Authorities are encouraging parents and guardians to ensure their children are up to date on all essential childhood vaccinations following the emergence of several new cases of a potentially severe illness.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) issued a warning earlier this month about measles, highlighting that it is “nearly twice as contagious” as the common cold.

Health officials are urging parents and carers to verify that their children have completed all standard vaccinations, including those for polio and the MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccine, in response to a decline in MMR immunization rates in recent years.

Recent figures reveal that England has seen 847 confirmed measles cases in laboratories since the year’s start.

This marks an increase of 36 cases compared to the previous month.

Most of these cases, about 69%, have occurred in children aged 10 and under, while around 26% have been reported in teenagers and adults aged 15 and above.

Health officials caution that measles can result in complications such as “ear infections, pneumonia, and inflammation of the brain which require hospitalisation and on rare occasions can lead to long term disability or death”.

Anyone uncertain whether their child is current with all their routine vaccinations should examine their child’s red book (personal child health record) initially.

If you’re unsure or need to update your child’s vaccinations, contact your GP surgery to verify, and arrange an appointment. Measles usually starts with symptoms similar to those of a common cold, followed by a rash a few days later.

Some may also develop small spots in their mouths.

The rash begins on the face and behind the ears before spreading to the rest of the body. The measles rash spots can occasionally be raised and merge to form blotchy patches, but they’re not typically itchy.

Measles is known as a Victorian disease as it was very common during that era. For more information about vaccinations, symptoms, and when to seek medical assistance, visit the NHS website.