'Vast majority' of measles cases in the North East attributed to Middlesbrough outbreak
Middlesbrough has been highlighted in a report on measles and tuberculosis (TB) that describes "a resurgence" in the illness nationally since the end of 2023".
At a meeting of the joint Overview and Scrutiny Committee (OSC) for NE & North Cumbria ICS & North & Central ICPS on September 30, a joint presentation was given from the integrated care board (ICB), NHS England and the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA). The presentation outlines how it “reflects the multi-agency working and response for infectious diseases” and explains how “the OSC requested information about the resurgence of health conditions in the North East, specifically measles and TB”.
The report outlines that there was a resurgence in measles in late 2023, following a decline during the pandemic. Since the beginning of 2024, there have been more than 2,000 cases of laboratory confirmed measles reported nationally. Cases have occurred primarily in unvaccinated children.
READ MORE: Map shows suspected measles cases on Teesside as England faces biggest outbreak in over a decade
A graph displaying the “laboratory confirmed measles cases from January 1, 2024 to July 15, 2024” shows that London is the region to have suffered the greatest number of cases. Specifically in the North East, the presentation cited that there have been “78 confirmed cases of measles in the North East reported to date”. The rate of confirmed cases in the North East was 2.91 out of 100,000, lower than the national average of 3.52 per 100,000.
However, it was noted that the “vast majority of cases are attributable to an outbreak in Middlesbrough with sustained community transmission”.
Information was also shared on the number of TB notifications and rates, with a graph showing a gradual downward trend from 2000 to 2020 in the rate of TB in the North East. The key message for the North East in 2020 was that there was a low incidence compared to the rest of England. The North East had 3.1 cases per 100,000.
There was, however, variation in the North East, with Middlesbrough and Newcastle posting higher rates. Additionally, whilst provisional UKHSA data shows stable incidences in 2020-2022, there was an up tick in cases in 2023.
Away from the presentation given to the committee, the Local Democracy Reporting Service recently outlined the increase in whooping cough in Middlesbrough. There been 45 cases of whooping cough reported over the past year, compared to just 1 reported case in the preceding 12 months. There has simultaneously been a drop in the uptake of the relevant vaccine amongst pregnant women in Middlesbrough.
For breaking news in your area direct to your inbox every day, go here to sign up to our free newsletter