This comes after a huge debate that was sparked off back in 1987 after a doctor suggested that the MMR vaccine caused autism. As a consequence, a lot of parents paid heed and didn’t vaccinate their children; this lead to an outbreak of all 3 diseases.

The recent study, which screened the blood samples of a group of children (all who’d previously received an MMR shot), didn’t find any abnormal responses to the vaccine in their immune system.

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They recorded 971 cases of measles in 2007, compared with 740 cases in 2006 – that’s a 30% jump.

The HPA’s report went on to say that most of the outbreaks were amongst communities where ‘vaccine uptake has been historically low’.

There has also been a smattering of smaller outbreaks in schools and nurseries; most of those infected were under 15 years old.

Over 70% of all measles cases were reported in the South East England; and of those, over half were in London.

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Measles, like all viral diseases, cannot be treated with antibiotics. Also like most viral illnesses, the best way to avoid measles is via vaccination.

Even in developed countries, where vaccination programs are common, there are misguided and misinformed people who refuse vaccination for themselves and/or their children. To protect these foolish people, and visitors to your area from other countries who have not been vaccinated, contact should be limited until a medical diagnosis has been established excluding mumps, or until at least 10 days have passed since the symptoms subsided.

Measles can be prevented with the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, and this vaccine immunizes against all 3 diseases.

The measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine prevents measles, mumps, and rubella. These three vaccines are safe given together. MMR is an attenuated (weakened) live virus vaccine, which means that after injection, the viruses grow and cause a harmless version of the infection in the vaccinated person with no symptoms or very mild symptoms. After the vaccination, the person’s immune system fights the infection caused by the weakened versions of the measles-mumps-rubella viruses and life-long immunity develops.

Usually the MMR vaccine is given to children at 12 to 15 months of age. A second booster vaccination with MMR is often given between the ages of 4 and 12.

More than 95% of people who receive a single dose of MMR will achieve life-long immunity to all three diseases. The second vaccination with MMR confers life-long immunity to those who did not fully respond to the first vaccination.

A benefit of having suffered measles is life-long immunity, and the MMR vaccine has a similar effect. If the worldwide uptake of any vaccine is high enough, the actual disease can be eradicated, as is the case with smallpox.

As with all immunization schedules, there are important exceptions and special circumstances. Consult your doctor for the latest information.

In the US, before the measles vaccine became available, there were approximately 450,000 measles cases each year and an average of 450 measles-associated deaths were reported each year. Widespread use of MMR vaccine has led to a 99% reduction in measles cases compared with the pre-vaccine era.

However, measles is common in other countries where it spreads rapidly and can be easily brought into countries where vaccination programs are common. So, if vaccinations were stopped, then measles would return to pre-vaccine levels and hundreds of people would die from measles-related illnesses every year.

Because measles is caused by a virus, it cannot be treated with antibiotics. And, like most viral illnesses, a measles infection (in the majority of cases) can simply be left to run its course.

In most cases, measles treatment simply involves treatment of the symptoms, with paracetamol, regular rinsing of the mouth, and plenty of fluids to drink.

If you suspect that your child has measles then contact your child’s doctor. Close contact with your doctor will let you both monitor your child’s progress and will help identify the onset of any complications.

At home, it is important to regularly monitor the sufferer’s progress and to check for the onset of any complications before they have a chance to become serious or life threatening. The sufferer’s temperature should be monitored, and a written record kept of the readings, dates, and times. If the temperature climbs above 103 degrees Fahrenheit (39.4 degrees Celsius), then seek medical advice.

It is also beneficial and safe to use acetaminophen, ibuprofen, and other fever medications to bring down a fever.

WARNING DO NOT USE ASPIRIN. Unless instructed by your child’s doctor, don’t give aspirin to a child who has a viral illness since the use of aspirin in such cases has been associated with the development of Reye Syndrome – a serious and potentially deadly encephalitis-like illness. Instead, acetaminophen and ibuprofen may be used safely.

As with most viral diseases, there is no specific antiviral therapy for measles, and the basic treatment consists of providing necessary supportive therapy to control the symptoms and make the sufferer as comfortable as possible. For example, encourage your child to drink clear fluids: water, fruit juice, tea, and lemonade. Fluids help the body replace water lost in the heat and sweating of fever episodes. Fluids also reduce the chance of lung infections (pneumonia) because they reduce the viscosity of lung secretions, stopping them from clogging breathing passages.

A cool-mist vaporizer will also help relieve the cough and soothe the breathing passages. To avoid the formation of mould, clean the vaporizer each day. Hot-water and steam vaporizers should be avoided because they can cause accidental burns or scalds to children.

Vitamin A supplements are believed to improve the outcome of measles if the patient is deficient in vitamin A.

Children with measles should rest and avoid busy activities, TV, bright lights, and reading. It is usually safe for children to return to school about 7 to 10 days after the fever and rash have subsided.

If a person’s immune system is weakened by measles, then they will be more susceptible to other bacterial infections, especially in the ears and lungs. When this happens, antibiotics should be obtained to control the secondary bacterial infections.

People who have a measles rash and fever are infectious and they should minimize the risk contact with other people to reduce the chances of spreading the disease to others who may be susceptible to measles.

Even in developed countries, where vaccination programs are common, there are misguided and misinformed people who refuse vaccination for themselves and/or their children. To protect these foolish people, and visitors to your area from other countries who have not been vaccinated, contact should be limited until a medical diagnosis has been established excluding measles, or the symptoms resolve completely, or 7-10 days after the fever and rash have subsided.

Persons who are potentially infectious with measles should especially avoid public transport (including commercial airlines) and crowded indoor areas.

Before visiting a clinic or hospital, people who suspect that they may have measles should call ahead before so that arrangements may be made to minimise the exposure of others to measles.

The measles virus resides in the mucus in the nose and throat of infected people. When they sneeze or cough, droplets spray into the air and the droplets remain active and contagious on infected surfaces for up to two hours.

Measles is a highly contagious disease, and about 90% of non-immunized persons will develop measles if they live in the same house as someone who has the disease. The measles virus can be spread to other people from airborne droplets of fluid from the nose or mouth. People with measles are usually contagious from about 5 days after exposure to about 5 days after the rash appears.

Diagnosis of measles is usually based on the symptoms. Various laboratory tests may help with the diagnosis, but they are usually unnecessary.

In some cases, if your doctor suspects that you or your child has measles, a virus culture or serologic blood test may be needed. This blood test can detect measles antibodies, which indicate whether you have had a recent or past infection of the disease.

If you suspect that you or your child has measles, then contact your doctor as soon as possible to avoid the risk of developing complications or spreading the disease.

Measles begins with a high fever that lasts for a couple of days, with temperatures reaching as high as 105 degrees Fahrenheit (40.6 degrees Celsius).

Other symptoms include a hacking cough, runny nose, and conjunctivitis (also called pink eye), which is characterised by sore, red eyes which are sensitive to light. A rash starts on the face and upper neck, spreads down the back and trunk, and then extends to the arms and hands, as well as the legs and feet. After about five days, the rash fades in the same order that it appeared, face first and feet last.

As the rash disappears, the healing skin may look brown temporarily, before it sheds in a finely textured peel.

One special identifying sign of measles is Koplik’s spots. These are small, red, irregularly-shaped spots with blue-white centres found inside the mouth. Koplik’s spots usually appear 1 to 2 days before the measles rash and may be noticed by a doctor looking for the cause of a child’s fever and cough.

Measles itself is unpleasant, but the many complications it can cause are dangerous.

Serious (but rare) complications can result from measles, such as croup, bronchitis, bronchiolitis, diarrhoea, pneumonia, conjunctivitis, myocarditis, hepatitis, and brain inflammation (encephalitis). Immediate medical treatment should be obtained if there is any sign of these occurring.

Measles can also make the body more susceptible to other diseases, such as ear infections or pneumonias caused by bacteria.

The disease can be severe, with bronchopneumonia or brain inflammation (encephalitis) and other complications leading to death in approximately 2 of every 1,000 (0.2%) cases in developed countries. In the developing world, fatality rates are much higher and often exceed 150 deaths per 1,000 cases (15%).

The most common symptoms of measles include fever, a hacking cough, runny nose, conjunctivitis, and a spreading rash. Measles can also cause a range of serious complications.

The incubation period for measles is about 2 weeks between exposure to the virus and the appearance of the rash.

Most symptoms of measles subside 1 or 2 days after the rash begins, but the cough and rash usually last 10-14 days.

Measles, like all viral diseases, cannot be treated with antibiotics. Also like most viral illnesses, a measles infection can normally be left to run its course. Fortunately, most children and adults recover from measles within 2-3 weeks without developing any serious complications.

Usually, the only treatment that is required for measles sufferers is treatment of their symptoms, with paracetamol, regular rinsing of the mouth, and plenty of fluids to drink.

Serious (but rare) complications can result from measles, such as croup, bronchitis, bronchiolitis, diarrhoea, pneumonia, conjunctivitis, myocarditis, hepatitis, and brain inflammation (encephalitis). Immediate medical treatment should be obtained if there is any sign of these occurring.

Measles can also make the body more susceptible to other diseases, such as ear infections or pneumonias caused by bacteria.

Symptoms and complications of measles are usually more severe in adults.