UK sees 'worrying' rise in measles

Health officials have become concerned at the rising level of measles infections across the UK.

According to figures from the Health Protection Agency, cases of measles rose by 70 per cent from 2007 to 2008. This is mostly down to unvaccinated children spreading the diseases, officials say.

In England and Wales, the number of reported cases grew from 990 in 2007 to 1,348 in 2008.

While the vaccination level among young children also rose, to 80 per cent, in the same period, it still stands below the 95 per cent 'herd immunity' threshold designed to restrict the spread of the disease.

The agency's immunisation expert Mary Ramsay said: "There are still many children out there who were not vaccinated as toddlers over the past decade and remain unprotected.

"Unfortunately this means that measles, which is highly infectious, is spreading easily among these unvaccinated children."

Vaccination against measles in the UK is given in the form of the MMR jab.