A MEASLES outbreak across the region has prompted health chiefs to urge St Helens parents to ensure children are vaccinated against the virus.

So far 25 cases of measles have been confirmed across Merseyside and there are dozens more suspected cases under investigation.

The Health Protection Agency says the outbreak is mainly in Liverpool, but there have been three confirmed cases in St Helens and others in Sefton and Knowsley.

Although the number of confirmed cases in St Helens is so far small, the Star understands a significant number with measles symptoms presented themselves to doctors in the past week.

The HPA’s Cheshire and Merseyside Health Protection Unit, supported by NHS colleagues, is risk assessing cases and their contacts to limit the outbreak.

Dr Sam Ghebrehewet, director of Cheshire and Merseyside HPU, said: “The sporadic nature of the cases would suggest that there has been more than one source of infection and measles may have been circulating in the community for some time.”

A pool of older children– who were not immunised following scare stories (which have subsequently been discredited) about the MMR jab – is thought to be increasing the risk of infection spreading.

St Helens health bosses say the majority of people who contract measles are children or young adults under the age of 25, who either haven’t received the MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccination at all or have not had both doses. Across St Helens the MMR uptake is less than 90per cent, meaning one in ten children are at risk of measles, mumps and rubella.

Dr Dympna Edwards, interim director of public health at NHS St Helens, said: “Measles is highly infectious and it’s really important that we take steps to prevent it spreading.

“MMR is a safe and effective vaccination which provides an excellent defence against measles, mumps and rubella (German measles) when both doses are given.

“In recent years MMR vaccination rates have been steadily increasing across Merseyside. If you’re the parent of a child who hasn’t received both MMR doses – or a young person who hasn’t had both jabs – then it’s not too late to act.

“GP practices will be happy to provide everyone under 25 with the vaccination.”

Meanwhile, Dr Ghebrehewet added to warnings that unvaccinated older children risk passing on infection to “siblings and other babies and children who are too young to be vaccinated”.

She said: “In this outbreak, six of the laboratory confirmed cases are in babies and toddlers who were too young to be vaccinated.

“We are therefore strongly encouraging parents of older children who are currently unprotected to make arrangements for vaccination.”

The most common symptoms are fever, cough, sore eyes and a rash that develops 3-4 days after the onset of illness, starting with the face and head and spreading down the body.

The HPA is also advising people with symptoms of measles to: • Stay away from school, nursery or work until at least four days have elapsed since the rash developed.

• Telephone the family GP for advice before attending GP surgeries, NHS walk-in centres or hospital A & E units. If it is necessary for a child or adult with measles to attend an NHS facility, the GP can telephone the facility in advance to make arrangements for minimising the measles patient’s contact with other vulnerable patients.

• Avoid contact with pregnant women as they are more vulnerable to infection and measles is highly infectious.