The outbreak, which has particularly affected Italy and Romania, has prompted the Health Department to call on parents to ensure that their children have received the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine.
Between 1 January 2016 and 31 March 2017, Romania reported 4,025 cases of measles, including 18 deaths. The majority of measles cases have been concentrated in areas where vaccination uptake is especially low.
Dr Linda Diggle, head of preventive programmes at the Health Department, said: ‘Uptake of immunisation is generally high in Jersey, however, the European outbreak and the deaths it is causing shows just how important it is for all children to be vaccinated.’
Any parent who is unsure if their child received two doses of the MMR vaccine before school age should speak to their GP, or contact the Immunisation Nurse Specialist on 445790.
