MEASLES could sweep the UK unless vulnerable children and teenagers across South Cheshire are vaccinated as a matter of urgency, say health chiefs.

Central and Eastern Cheshire PCT is to offer MMR vaccine to more than 10,500 children and teenagers in an attempt to stop the outbreak becoming an epidemic.

There are now 75 reported cases in the locality and 20 have been confirmed by lab tests.

The majority of the remaining cases are ‘probable’ measles.

Most of the reported measles cases are in Crewe, Sandbach and Middlewich, but there have also been reports from Congleton, Nantwich and Winsford.

Dr Guy Hayhurst, Consultant in Public Health with the PCT, said: “We identified 10,534 children who had no record of full MMR immunisation and wrote to their parents to seek consent for them to be vaccinated in school.

“We hope that by doing this we will halt the current outbreak in its tracks, or at least severely curtail it.”

Teams of nurses will vaccinate the children and teenagers in 177 primary schools and 33 secondary schools.

The vaccine will also be offered to younger school staff members.

The mass vaccination programme began yesterday (Wednesday) and should be completed by December 17.

Dr Hayhurst added: “There’s a real threat of measles out there, not just in Central and Eastern Cheshire, but throughout the country.

“It is imperative for parents to give consent for their children to be vaccinated or we will see many more cases.

“Measles can be a very nasty illness with a potential for serious side effects. In rare cases it can kill.

“MMR is a safe and proven vaccine. I would urge all parents to give consent for their children to be protected now and not to leave things to chance.

“This will be a major operation that will place a considerable strain on our human resources, but it has to be done in the interests of the wider public health.”

Jeff McGill, head of the Voluntary Services Team at national rubella charity Sense, said: “We are very concerned at the record number of measles cases and reported outbreaks in areas such as Cheshire.

“At the same time people should not forget about the serious consequences of rubella.

“If a pregnant woman contracts rubella, her baby could be born deaf and blind.

“Vaccination is the key to preventing both measles and rubella outbreaks.

“We urge anyone concerned to speak to their GP and have their children vaccinated.”

Classic symptoms of measles are fever, a cough, red and painful eyes, swollen glands, loss of appetite and a rash that tends to follow 3-4 days after the onset of symptoms.

Dr Rosemary McCann, the HPA’s North West immunisation lead, added: “Britain is on the cusp of a measles epidemic because a large cohort of children and teenagers missed out on MMR vaccination over the past five to 10 years and measles is now spreading amongst them.”