‘We urge all parents in Salford and all areas of Greater Manchester to act now’
Measles can spread very quickly
The NHS has issued a warning for parents after one borough of Greater Manchester recorded the fourth highest number of measles cases in the UK between January and July.
Monthly data published earlier this month by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) showed how 64 cases of measles have been reported in the north west of England since January 2025.
In previous years for the north west, there were 99 confirmed cases of measles in 2024 and eight cases in 2023.
There are further fears about a spike in cases of the ‘rapidly’ spreading disease, particularly among children, over the summer months.
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The region’s NHS is now urging parents to act as measles can lead to very serious illness, and a vaccine can protect people at any time.
An NHS Greater Manchester spokesperson said: “We have recently seen a rise in measles cases in Salford and we’re urging parents to check that their children are fully protected. Measles spreads very easily and can lead to serious illness, especially in young children.
“The MMR vaccine is safe, effective and free on the NHS. Children need two doses – the first one is usually given at around 12 months and a second at around three years and four months.
“If your child has missed a dose, it’s never too late to catch up.
“Parents and carers should check their child’s Red Book or the NHS app to see if they’ve had both doses, if not, contact your GP. Vaccination not only protects your child but helps prevent outbreaks and keeps the whole community safe.
“We urge all parents in Salford and all areas of Greater Manchester to act now. High vaccine uptake doesn’t just protect your child, it protects our whole community, including the very young, pregnant women, and those with weakened immune systems.”
Of the cases reported so far this year, around 30 per cent are in children aged between one and four.
In five to ten year olds, the figure is 22.1 per cent, followed by 13.6 per cent for those aged under one.
Health bosses have issued an alert over a ‘highly infectious disease'(Image: Getty Images)
According to gov.uk data, in 2024 there were 2,911 laboratory confirmed measles cases in England, the highest number of cases recorded annually, since 2012.
This was initially driven by an outbreak in Birmingham but was soon overtaken by a large outbreak in London, with small clusters in other regions.
The data has revealed how the number of confirmed measles cases by region puts Salford as having the fourth highest numbers of cases in the country, with 27 recorded so far between January 1 and June 30.
The UKHSA says it is working with local authority public health teams and the NHS to ‘monitor the situation’.
The latest figures have also sparked an urgent warning from the UKHSA, which says the reason there has been more cases of measles in children and young people is because fewer people are having the MMR vaccine, which protects against measles as well as two other viruses called mumps and rubella.
Dr Merav Kliner, Deputy Director for UKHSA North West, said: “Measles is one of the most highly infectious diseases and spreads rapidly among those who are unvaccinated. It can be a serious infection that can lead to complications especially in young children and those with weakened immune systems.
“With declines in childhood vaccine uptake, including MMR, observed in many countries around the world over the last decade, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, we are now seeing the impact of this with large measles outbreaks globally including recently in Europe and England last year.
“We are concerned that we will see more measles outbreaks, especially over the summer months as families with unvaccinated children and adults travel to countries where diseases are endemic or outbreaks are occurring.
“That is why it is important that anyone travelling for summer holidays or to visit family, especially parents of young children, check that all members of their family are up to date with all their vaccines, especially MMR vaccines.
“Parents should be aware that measles is a nasty illness for most children and sadly, for some, can be very serious and life changing, but it is completely preventable. Vaccination is the best way to protect yourself and your children. I strongly urge parents to take up the offer as soon as possible and protect their child now.”
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It comes after Alder Hey Children’s Hospital issued an open letter to parents as there were ‘several children seriously unwell in hospital,’ earlier this week.
Symptoms of measles appear seven to 10 days after contact with the virus and include cold-like symptoms such as runny or blocked nose, sneezing and cough; red, sore, watery eyes; a high temperature (fever), which may reach around 40C; a non-itchy, red-brown rash which usually appears three to five days later or small white spots which may appear inside cheeks and the back of lips.
If your child develops symptoms a fever, cough, runny nose, red eyes, followed by a rash, please stay home and ring your GP or NHS 111.
Avoid going to health centres unannounced to prevent further spread.
Find out more here: Measles | Greater Manchester Integrated Care Partnership
