The World Health Organization says we are in the middle of a global mumps and measles crisis.
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There has been a significant increase in mumps cases in England in 2019. This is in addition to continuing outbreaks of measles across the country.
The increase has led to calls for people to ensure they are immunised. Public Health England say even one person missing their vaccinations was “too many”.
There were 795 cases of mumps in the first three months of 2019. This is compared with 1,031 in the whole of 2018.
Most recent mumps are linked to teenagers mixing when they go to university. A large outbreak was found on Nottingham Trent University and the University of Nottingham campuses at the beginning of the year. But similar cases have been reported in other areas of the country, including the capital.
Mumps is caused by a virus that infects and causes painful swellings in the parotid glands under the ears. In rarer cases, it can lead to viral meningitis and swollen ovaries or testicles.
Measles, meanwhile, is a highly infectious and potentially fatal disease. Dr Mary Ramsay, the head of immunisation at Public Health England, warns: “measles can kill and it is incredibly easy to catch, especially if you are not vaccinated.”
Distrust in vaccines can be traced to almost two decades ago, when a now discredited and debunked theory suggested a link between the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine – or the MMR – and autism.
As investigated by City News, the head of NHS England believes the return of anti-vaccine sentiments are caused by social media. He warns that “vaccination deniers” are gaining traction as part of a “fake news” movement.
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HeadlineRise in mumps and measles in England
Short HeadlineMumps and measles cases rise
StandfirstAn increase in cases leads to calls for people to ensure they are immunised.
There has been a significant increase in mumps cases in England in 2019. This is in addition to continuing outbreaks of measles across the country.
The increase has led to calls for people to ensure they are immunised. Public Health England say even one person missing their vaccinations was “too many”.
There were 795 cases of mumps in the first three months of 2019. This is compared with 1,031 in the whole of 2018.
Most recent mumps are linked to teenagers mixing when they go to university. A large outbreak was found on Nottingham Trent University and the University of Nottingham campuses at the beginning of the year. But similar cases have been reported in other areas of the country, including the capital.
Mumps is caused by a virus that infects and causes painful swellings in the parotid glands under the ears. In rarer cases, it can lead to viral meningitis and swollen ovaries or testicles.
Measles, meanwhile, is a highly infectious and potentially fatal disease. Dr Mary Ramsay, the head of immunisation at Public Health England, warns: “measles can kill and it is incredibly easy to catch, especially if you are not vaccinated.”
Distrust in vaccines can be traced to almost two decades ago, when a now discredited and debunked theory suggested a link between the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine – or the MMR – and autism.
As investigated by City News, the head of NHS England believes the return of anti-vaccine sentiments are caused by social media. He warns that “vaccination deniers” are gaining traction as part of a “fake news” movement.
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