![\"Parents](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/0_Vaccination-campaign.jpg\")
Parents have been urged to get their children vaccinated if they can(Image: PA)<\/p>\nA “very young child” is ill with the first confirmed case of measles in the area<\/p>\n
21:32, 15 Jul 2025Updated 11:58, 16 Jul 2025<\/p>\n
Parents have been urged to get their children vaccinated if they can(Image: PA)<\/p>\n
A very young child is ill with the first confirmed case of measles in Wirral<\/a>. The news comes just days after a child died in Liverpool’s Alder Hey Children’s Hospital<\/a>. The hospital has reported a concerning growth in measles infections in recent weeks leading to a rise in seriously unwell children.<\/a><\/p>\n Measles is highly infectious with individuals remaining contagious for up to ten days. The NHS says the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine offers 99% protection against the illness two weeks after a second dose.<\/p>\n Measles symptoms typically begin with those associated with the common cold, followed by a rash after several days. Some people may also develop small spots inside their mouth.<\/p>\n Initial symptoms include a runny or blocked nose, high temperature, coughing, sneezing, and sore, watery eyes. A rash usually appears a few days later, starting on the face and behind the ears before spreading throughout the body.<\/p>\n According to NHS guidance, the rash is sometimes raised and can form blotchy patches, but it’s not typically itchy. On white skin, the rash appears brown or red, but it may be more difficult to spot on brown or black skin.<\/p>\n The virus can lead to serious problems if it spreads to parts of the body like the lings or brain. Problems that can be caused by measles include pneumonia, meningitis, blindness, and seizures (fits) and in extreme cases, it can lead to death.<\/p>\n Responding to concerns about the rise in cases from Cllr Ewan Tomeny, Dave Bradburn, Wirral Council<\/a>\u2019s director of public health, said he had just been informed Wirral now had its first confirmed case. He told an adult social care and public health committee on July 15 the patient was \u201ca very young child,\u201d adding at this moment in time authorities were assessing the risk and any exposure over the last four days.<\/p>\n He said while the Wirral\u2019s vaccinations weren\u2019t too bad at around 93% for one dose and below 90% for two doses, this is below what is considered needed for ‘herd immunity’ – meaning the wider population is protected from an outbreak. He said this could lead to people being vulnerable to infection, particularly those who aren\u2019t able to get vaccinated and they would be pushing for those who can to get vaccinated.<\/p>\n Mr Bradburn told the LDRS if people weren\u2019t sure about what to do, they should contact their GP, adding: \u201cThe key message is measles can be a really serious illness. The main thing that people can do that is effective is to get vaccinated.\u201d<\/p>\n He said a mobile vaccination hub called the Living Well Service bus would be visiting the Wirral soon, adding: \u201cPeople do not even have to book in for that. They can just turn up and they can sort you out there and then.\u201d<\/p>\n In a message to parents, he said: \u201cIf you suspect your child might have measles and they are not vaccinated, then the best thing is to ring your GP or NHS 111. Do not go down to your GP practice without speaking to them first because it\u2019s so infectious. On average, one person with measles can infect 15 people.<\/p>\n \u201cWe do not want to scare people. We just want to reassure them that there is a simple solution and that is to get vaccinated. It\u2019s not just about protecting their child, it\u2019s about protecting people in the community in particular the people who can\u2019t get vaccinated.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a little bit better [on the Wirral]. You are going to get pockets for various reasons why people will not be up to date with vaccinations.<\/p>\n \u201cThose are the ones we are most concerned about. You just need someone to go into a health setting and there are other vulnerable people there and it\u2019s so infectious that it\u2019s very likely to spread to them.<\/p>\n False information regarding the safety of vaccines is seen to be a reason why vaccination rates have dropped across the country. Mr Bradburn said misinformation linked to the MMR vaccine \u201chas repeatedly been shown that that is completely false,\u201d adding: \u201cIt\u2019s a recognised safe vaccine. It\u2019s far safer to get the vaccine than not.”<\/p>\n For the latest news and breaking news visit liverpoolecho.co.uk\/news<\/a><\/p>\n Get all the big headlines, pictures, analysis, opinion and video on the stories that matter to you.<\/p>\n Follow us on Twitter<\/a> @LivECHONews<\/a> – the official Liverpool ECHO Twitter account – real news in real time.<\/p>\n