Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 02:41pm on 14 Jan 2024,Sunday Health & Wellness
Measles cases in England and Wales skyrocketed to 1,603 in 2023, fueled by vaccine hesitancy over the MMR jab, reveals the UK Health Security Agency. This marks a substantial increase from 735 cases in 2022 and 360 the previous year. The surge is concentrated in the West Midlands, reporting the highest cases since the mid-1990s. A significant outbreak in London accounted for 44 cases. Dr. Naveed Syed warns of the virus's rapid spread and severe consequences, emphasizing the need for MMR vaccination. Vaccination rates declined, hitting 84.5% in 2022-23, prompting health authorities to organize catch-up clinics.
