Monthly measles cases fall in August 2013

Monthly cases of measles continued to decline in England during August 2013, according to Public Health England.

There was a total of 21 confirmed cases in August, compared to 73 cases in July and 116 in June, marking the fourth consecutive monthly drop in measles cases and bringing the overall figure for the year to date to 1,386.

The fall comes after a nationwide MMR catch-up programme was launched by Public Health England, NHS England and the Department of Health in April 2013, with the aim of treating as many unvaccinated and partially vaccinated ten to 16-year-olds as possible by the end of September.

Although it is still too early to confirm whether the recent declines in measles cases have been caused by the vaccination scheme, the drop is being hailed as a positive development regardless.

Dr Mary Ramsay, head of immunisation at Public Health England, said: "Getting vaccinated is the best way to prevent measles and protect friends and families, especially ahead of going back to school when it's most likely to spread."

Almost 78,000 previously unvaccinated children nationally may have received a dose of MMR vaccine since last year.