The parents of a five-month-old baby who is struggling to breathe after contracting measles have described her “terrifying” ordeal as the number of cases surges.
England is facing measles The UK Health and Safety Authority (UKHSA) said that there were 86 confirmed cases in England in the past week and a state of emergency was entered.
This brings the total number of measles cases recorded so far this year to nearly 900, a significant increase from 368 cases in all of 2023.
About two-thirds of those affected are under 10 years old.
Health workers say the current outbreak Started in the West Midlands last yearhas now spread to all regions across the country.
London has become the latest hotspot, with five-month-old Margot House among the latest to contract the highly contagious disease.
Her mother Georgia House told Sky News: “It was really scary because I was holding my little baby and she was having trouble breathing and looked terrible.
“She had a rash on her stomach, the back of her neck and her head.”
Margot’s rash spread all over her belly, neck and head
Ms House said her daughter most likely contracted measles when she was admitted to hospital with an allergic reaction earlier this month.
Because Margot was less than 12 months old, she was not eligible for the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine and ended up back in the hospital, needing help breathing and eating.
The main symptoms of measles are high fever, sore eyes, watery eyes, coughing, sneezing, and a rash that usually appears after the initial symptoms.
Georgia House urges people to check their vaccination records
Measles vaccination was introduced in the UK in 1968, and until recently, widespread measles vaccination had all but eradicated the disease.
Hundreds of children have contracted the disease in recent weeks, and health officials have warned that “thousands of children across the country remain not fully vaccinated and may be at risk of severe illness or lifelong complications.”
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Margot and her father James
Dr Vanessa Saliba, epidemiology adviser at HSE, said: “The number of measles cases is rising across the country, with a particularly sharp rise in London in recent weeks.
“Parents should check their child’s red book now to make sure they are up to date with the MMR vaccine and other routine vaccinations. If you are unsure, contact your GP surgery to check.”
She added that GPs would be able to provide any vaccinations required for renewal.
Margot will make a full recovery but her parents Georgia and James are urging anyone who may be behind on their jab to get it.
“You can stop this from becoming an epidemic and a massive outbreak,” Ms. House said. “Let people who really want to be vaccinated but don’t have the opportunity to go about their lives without having to worry about getting a potentially life-threatening infection.”
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