Child in Liverpool dies from measles as doctors sound alarm over vaccine take-up

A child has died of measles after being treated in intensive care in Liverpool.

The child, who was treated at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital, has not been identified.

They understood to have been severely ill with measles and also had other serious health problems, the Sunday Times reported.

It is not known if they had received a vaccine for measles. Experts say it provudes 97% protection for those who receive it.

Accordig to the UKHSA, there have only been three other deaths of children from acute measles in the last decade in England and Wales.

Medical experts warned the illness could spread ‘like wildfire’ due to declining vaccination rates.

The death comes after medics wrote an open letter to parents and carers in Merseyside, urging them to have their MMR vaccine after a rise in cases.

They warned that several children were seriously unwell and receiving treatment at Alder Hey, with 17 treated in hospital since June.

The open letter

Open letter to Parents and Carers in Merseyside from Alder Hey Children’s Hospital, UKHSA and Directors of Public Health for Liverpool, Sefton and Knowsley

We are seeing an increase in measles cases in Merseyside with more of our local children and young people becoming ill.

The reason we are seeing more cases of measles in our children and young people is because fewer people are having the MMR vaccine, which protects against measles as well as two other viruses called mumps and rubella.

The number of children being treated at Alder Hey for effects and complications of measles is increasing. Children in hospital who are very poorly for another reason, are at higher risk of catching the virus.

What is measles?

Measles is caused by a highly contagious virus which can infect anyone who isn’t immune. Symptoms can be severe and are leading to increasing numbers of children being admitted to our hospital. In rare cases, catching the disease can be fatal. There is no specific treatment for measles.

Anyone can catch measles at any age. Measles is particularly dangerous for some of our most vulnerable children and young people, including those under one year of age and those already battling other serious illnesses like cancer.

Measles usually starts with a runny nose, sneezing, coughing and a high temperature. It may also cause red, sore eyes. The measles rash follows a few days later, starting on the face and behind the ears before spreading to the rest of the body.

How can I prevent my child from catching measles?

The MMR vaccination is the safest and best defence against measles.

This vaccine has been available for many years and is proven to be safe. Two doses of the MMR vaccine will give lifelong protection against measles, mumps and rubella. The vaccination is free and easily available from your GP at any age. For children, the first dose of the vaccine is typically given at 12 months of age, and the second at around 3 years and 4 months.

Studies have shown that there is no link between receiving the vaccine and developing autism spectrum disorders.

Please protect yourself as well as our children and young people by ensuring you are vaccinated.

Anyone who suspects they or their child has measles should call their GP surgery or NHS 111 first before turning up at a healthcare setting such as a GP practice, urgent treatment centre or accident and emergency department, to help stop the spread of the virus.

Professor Matt Ashton, the director of public health for Liverpool, warned: ‘I’m extremely worried that the potential is there for measles to really grab hold in our community. My concern is the unprotected population and it spreading like wildfire.’

A statement from the Alder Hey Children’s NHS Foundation Trust said: ‘To respect patient confidentiality, we can’t comment on individual cases.

‘We are concerned about the increasing number of children and young people who are contracting measles. Measles is a highly contagious viral illness which can cause children to be seriously unwell, requiring hospital treatment, and in rare cases, death.

‘The number of children being treated at Alder Hey for effects and complications of measles is increasing (we have treated 17 since June).

‘We treat children with a range of conditions and illnesses in our hospital, including those with compromised immunity due to other health issues, making them more susceptible to infections, including measles.

‘We can prevent people, including children, from contracting measles through vaccination. Please protect yourself and vulnerable children and young people by ensuring you are fully vaccinated.’

A Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) report released earlier this month determined uptake of vaccines in the UK has stalled over the last decade and is, in many cases, declining.

None of the routine childhood vaccinations have met the target for 95% coverage since 2021, meaning youngsters are at risk of catching illnesses such as measles, meningitis and whooping cough.

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