A man has died in Ireland after contracting measles after traveling to Birmingham, health officials said.
The Irish Health Executive (HSE) confirmed that a man, believed to be in his late 40s, died in hospital in the Dublin Midlands Health Region.
It is the first confirmed case of measles in Ireland this year and follows a significant increase in cases in the UK. Four measles cases were reported in Ireland in 2023 and two in 2022.
The Irish Independent said the man had recently traveled to Birmingham, which has been experiencing a measles outbreak in recent weeks. England’s Health and Safety Executive said infections in the city “remain a concern”.
According to data published by UKHSA, there have been 465 confirmed cases across England since October last year, 71% of which were recorded in the West Midlands.
Measles spreads very easily and can cause serious health problems such as meningitis and pneumonia. It usually starts with cold-like symptoms, followed by a rash a few days later.
The MMR vaccine is given to children as part of the NHS routine immunization schedule to protect against measles, mumps and rubella. Children receive their first vaccination at 1 year of age and their second vaccination at 3 years and 4 months of age.
But the latest data shows vaccination rates have fallen sharply in the UK since the pandemic. Only 72.8% of children in the capital will have received both doses of the MMR vaccine by the age of five in September 2023, the lowest rate in the country.
Last month, the NHS called on parents to book their children to receive the MMR vaccine through pop-up clinics in schools in areas with low vaccine uptake.
Dr Vanessa Saliba, consultant epidemiologist at UKHSA, said: Uptake of the MMR vaccine has fallen over the past decade, with one in 10 children starting school in the UK unprotected. Measles is highly contagious and the risk of spreading to other areas is very high.
“Parents should be aware that measles is a troublesome disease for most children, and unfortunately for some it can be very serious and life-altering, but it is completely preventable.
“Vaccination is the best way to protect yourself and your children. We urge parents to take up the offer as soon as possible and protect their children now.”
The 10 areas with the lowest measles vaccination rates in the UK are all in London, figures have revealed, with a GP warning that “misinformation and complacency” are behind the decline in measles vaccination rates.
Analysis by the Standard found that children living in Hackney (60%), Kensington & Chelsea (60.7%) and Westminster (61%) had the lowest rates of MMR vaccination among local authorities. As of September last year, more than a third of children in the three wards were vulnerable to measles.