Suspected measles cases continue to rise in Bolton and in England

In the week ending March 3, there was a total of possible seven measles cases, which is a rise from one measles case in the week ending February 11.

Now a Bolton MP has thrown her support behind a campaign highlighting the alarming increase in the number of cases in Bolton, and across Greater Manchester.

Yasmin Qureshi, Member of Parliament for Bolton South East said she is supporting ‘the huge multi agency response within Greater Manchester as a result of the rise in measles cases’.

Ms Qureshi said: “Measles is very dangerous. One in five people with measles will go to hospital and in very rare cases people can die from the disease.

“People in certain at-risk groups including babies and young children, pregnant women, and people with weakened immunity, are at increased risk of complications from measles.

“I am supporting the huge multi agency response within Greater Manchester as a result of the rise in measles cases.

“The key focus while case rates in GM are relatively low remains on primary prevention of further cases by ensuring people are up to date with their MMR vaccination. Please contact your GP for more information.”

Measles is a very infectious disease - just a cough or sneeze can spread the virus to other people.

It spreads easily and quickly among those who are not vaccinated, especially in nurseries and schools.

In the four weeks since January 29, there have been 183 laboratory confirmed measles cases across England.

Since the last update a week ago, a further 69 laboratory confirmed measles cases have been confirmed.

This brings the total number of cases confirmed since October 1 to 650.

The majority, 423 of the 650, 65 per cent, of these cases were in children under the age of 10 and 27 per cent, 178 of 650, in young people and adults over the age of 15.

Recent figures for the regions show 19 per cent of measles cases, 34 out of the 183 have been in the North West.

And as cases of measles rise, the NHS in Greater Manchester is taking a number of actions to combat the rise.

Read more of our top stories here:

• Farnworth Baptist Church ‘thrilled’ after being awarded grant funding

• Bolton NHS' advice for staying healthy during Ramadan

• 'No loss in capacity' as Royal Bolton removes 'RAAC'

This includes the continuation of a locally commissioned service to provide MMR vaccination to primary aged children who do not have a complete MMR vaccination history.

Primary schools with the highest number of incomplete vaccination histories are being prioritised.

The service has now extended their offer to include staff, and also pre-school settings attached to local authority schools and Sure Start Centres (aimed at two to three year olds who have not had their first MMR).

The School Aged Immunisation Services continue to improve vaccination uptake in secondary school children who do not have a complete MMR vaccination history, prioritising those with the lowest uptake.

There has been an introduction of vaccine catch-up clinics in general practice, including evening and weekend sessions.

Community pharmacies are being able to offer the MMR vaccine for the first time to run catch-up sessions.

And a communications activity is being carried out to raise awareness about the signs and symptoms of measles.

Ms Qureshi (Image: Yasmin Qureshi MP)

Symptoms of measles appear seven-10 days after contact with the virus and include:

• a runny or blocked nose, sneezing and coughing.
• red, sore watery eyes.
• a high temperature (fever).
• a red/brown rash which is not itchy and usually appears after the first symptoms. The spots may be raised and form blotchy patches – and may be harder to see on darker skin tones.
• small white spots may appear inside the cheeks and the back of lips for a few days.

If you have a story or something you would like to highlight in the community, please email me at chloe.wilson@newsquest.co.uk or DM me on X @chloewjourno.