By Hannah Ahmed Olivia Williams
A UK hospital has addressed parents and guardians after “several children” were reported to be “seriously unwell in hospital.” Alder Hey Children’s Hospital, as well as the UKHSA, shared the letter on social media platforms today (Monday, July 7), which revealed there has been a recent increase in measles cases in Merseyside, which is “putting children and young people at risk within our communities and our hospital,” the Liverpool Echo said. The notice from officials comes after the NHS acknowledged cases have also risen in Birmingham over recent weeks, according to NHS Birmingham and Solihull. A statement published on June 16, 2025 urged parents to ensure their children are properly vaccinated with the MMR vaccine, as the virus is highly infectious. READ MORE: Dentist being fined £150K by NHS for ‘keeping teeth too healthy’ It read: “Nurse leaders in Birmingham, Solihull and the Black Country are urging parents to make sure children are up to date with their measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine, amidst increasing cases in the area. “Measles is a highly infectious disease that can lead to serious complications, such as severe lung infections and inflammation of the brain. It also damages and suppresses the immune system, leaving children more vulnerable to catching other illnesses. “Cases have risen in recent weeks in Birmingham, prompting calls for parents to ensure their children are fully vaccinated and encouraging anyone who wasn’t vaccinated as a child to speak to their GP about a catch up immunisation if needed. “The virus can spread quickly in communities, particularly in settings such as schools and nurseries, if children have not received both doses of the MMR vaccine.” The letter from Alder Hey Children’s Hospital in Liverpool also urged parents, guardians and their children to “get vaccinated now,” as an increase in the area has been reported. It added there were several children receiving treatment who were “seriously unwell,” at the hospital, in addition to addressing how those kids who are “very poorly for another reason,” are at a higher risk of contracting the virus. According to the NHS, measles is an infection that spreads very easily and can cause serious problems in some people. Measles usually starts with cold-like symptoms, followed by a rash a few days later. Some people may also get small spots in their mouth. The first symptoms include a runny or blocked nose, a high temperature, a cough, sneezing, and red, sore, watery eyes. A rash usually appears a few days later, starting on the face and behind the ears before spreading to the rest of the body. Spots of the rash are sometimes raised and joined together to form blotchy patches, and they’re not normally itchy. The rash looks brown or red on white skin and may be harder to see on brown or black skin, NHS guidance states, adding: “It’s very unlikely to be measles if you’ve had both doses of the MMR vaccine or you’ve had measles before.” You should contact 111 or ask for an urgent GP appointment if you think you or your child may have measles, if your child is under one year old and has come into contact with someone who has measles, or if you’ve been in close contact with someone who has measles and are pregnant or have a weakened immune system. You should also seek urgent medical advice if you or your child have a high temperature that has not come down after taking paracetamol or ibuprofen; you or your child have difficulty breathing – you may feel more short of breath than usual; your baby or young child is not feeding well, or taking less feeds or fluids than usual; you or your child are peeing less than usual (or your baby has fewer wet nappies); you or your child feels very unwell, or you’re worried something is seriously wrong. Anyone with measles should stay off work, school or nursery for at least four days from when the rash first appears, and try to avoid close contact with babies and anyone who is pregnant or has a weakened immune system. A recent increase in measles cases in Merseyside is putting children and young people at risk within our communities and our hospital. Several children are seriously unwell and receiving treatment at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital. Measles is on the rise amongst our children. We can all help stop it. Get vaccinated now. What is the current situation with measles in Merseyside? 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 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 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 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. The 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 three years and four 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 GP practice, urgent treatment centre or accident and emergency department, to help stop the spread of the virus. READ MORE: Expert names 6 foods that act like ‘weight loss jabs’ that are easy to add to diet “Nurse leaders in Birmingham, Solihull and the Black Country are urging parents to make sure children are up to date with their measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine, amidst increasing cases in the area. “Measles is a highly infectious disease that can lead to serious complications, such as severe lung infections and inflammation of the brain. It also damages and suppresses the immune system, leaving children more vulnerable to catching other illnesses. “Cases have risen in recent weeks in Birmingham, prompting calls for parents to ensure their children are fully vaccinated and encouraging anyone who wasn’t vaccinated as a child to speak to their GP about a catch up immunisation if needed. “The virus can spread quickly in communities, particularly in settings such as schools and nurseries, if children have not received both doses of the MMR vaccine. “All children are invited for their first MMR vaccine on the NHS when they turn one. The second dose is given when they reach three years and four months of age. Having two doses of the vaccine provides the best protection against MMR. “Adults and older children can also be vaccinated at any age if they have not been fully vaccinated before and are being encouraged to come forward if they haven’t had two doses. “Sally Roberts, Chief Nursing Officer for the NHS Black Country Integrated Care Board, said: “The MMR vaccine is a safe and effective combined vaccine, which protects against three serious illnesses – measles, mumps, and rubella. “Measles is a highly infectious virus which spreads very easily, especially in schools. While most people recover completely within a couple of weeks, measles can cause very serious illness for those in certain at-risk groups including babies and small children, pregnant women and those with weakened immune systems. “There’s no specific medical treatment for measles, so it’s important to get vaccinated as it’s the best protection against becoming seriously unwell. If your child has not yet had the MMR vaccine or hasn’t had both doses, you should call your GP and book an appointment as soon as possible. “Anyone with symptoms is advised to phone their GP or NHS 111 for advice, rather than visiting their GP surgery or A&E, to prevent the illness spreading further.” “Helen Kelly, Chief Nursing Officer for NHS Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care Board said: “We have seen a small rise in measles cases in Birmingham, but it’s important to remember that even a few cases can lead to rapid spread within our communities. “There are lots of myths and misconceptions about the MMR vaccination, but we know it is safe, effective and remains our best protection against a virus which can be life-threatening in the most serious cases. “The MMR vaccination is safe for all faiths and cultures, and a pork-free version is available for those who avoid pork products. “If you’re unsure, I strongly encourage parents to speak to their GP, health visitor or nurse to get accurate information and avoid the risks of misinformation which spreads easily online.” “Parents who are unsure if their child is up to date with all their routine vaccinations should check their child’s Red Book (personal child health record), check the NHS app, or contact their GP practice.”