TWO UK cities were hit by measles outbreaks last week. There were 11 confirmed cases in Leeds and eight in Liverpool. All were in children who hadn鈥檛 been vaccinated against the virus, according to Public Health England.
鈥淭he number of children in England receiving the vaccine has dropped for the third year in a row鈥�
In order for a population to be protected by herd immunity, 95 per cent of people need to be immunised against a virus. At this level, it is difficult for the virus to spread. But this year, the proportion of children in England receiving the MMR vaccine 鈥� which protects against measles, mumps and rubella 鈥� dropped for the third year in a row, down to 91.6 per cent.
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In the US, 120 people are reported to have caught measles so far this year. Although it was declared 鈥渆liminated鈥� in the US in 2000, many people pick up the virus while travelling.
An investigation by the US Centers for Disease Control published last week found that two outbreaks related to unvaccinated people catching the virus abroad cost public health agencies more than $68,000 to monitor, treat and control.
This article appeared in print under the headline 鈥淢easles hits UK鈥�
