NORTH East Lincolnshire is still measles free.
The latest figures released by Public Health England reveal there have been no confirmed cases of the virus in the borough in 2012 or up to the end of April this year.
A spokesman for PHE said this was in contrast to the statistics for England, which show 962 cases had been confirmed by the end of April, following a record high of almost 2,000 cases last year.
In the surrounding Yorkshire and Humber region, there were 69 confirmed cases between January and April.
And long-term trends suggest the number of local outbreaks is on the rise, with 152 cases in 2012 and 62 in 2011.
However, of the 69 most recent cases, the closest to North East Lincolnshire were in Kingston-upon-Hull (three) and the East Riding of Yorkshire (nine) with the rest spread between North Yorkshire (30), South Yorkshire (12) and West Yorkshire (15). It is believed the rise is down to the number of 10 to 16-year-olds now left unprotected following concerns in the late 1990s and early 2000s over the MMR jab.
Across the UK, 95 per cent of practices have ordered extra vaccine doses.
And now health chiefs are calling on those whose children were not vaccinated to ensure they receive the inoculation to stop the virus spreading into our area.
Centre director for the PHE Yorkshire and the Humber Centre Dr Stephen Morton said: "Measles is a potentially fatal but entirely preventable disease and it is very disappointing that it is returning to the Yorkshire and the Humber area.
"The catch-up programme set out today recommends an approach to specifically target those young people most at risk.
"Those who have not been vaccinated should urgently seek at least one dose of MMR vaccination, which will give them 95 per cent protection against measles. A second dose is then needed to provide almost complete protection.
"It is never too late to get vaccinated against measles. Parents of unvaccinated children, teenagers and young adults who have missed out on MMR should urgently arrange to be vaccinated by their GP.
"If you are unsure whether you or your child has had two doses of the vaccine, speak to your GP, who will have a record."
To support the national programme, a new Facebook page has been launched - www.facebook.com/getvaccinatedEngland - in conjunction with NHS Choices.The initial symptoms of measles appear around ten days after you get the measles infection and generally last for up to two weeks.
They include:
Cold-like symptoms, such as runny nose, watery eyes, swollen eyelids and sneezing
Red eyes and sensitivity to light
A mild to severe temperature, which may peak at over 40.6°C (105°F) for several days, then fall but go up again when the rash appears.
Tiny greyish-white spots (called Koplik's spots) in the mouth and throat
Aches and pains
Tiredness, irritability and general lack of energy
Poor appetite
Dry cough
A red-brown spotty rash which appears two to four days after initial symptoms and lasts for up to eight days.
Most childhood rashes are not measles, but see your GP without delay if:
You suspect it is measles.
Your symptoms worsen.
Your temperature increases to above 38°C (100.4°F).
Your temperature stays high after other symptoms have gone.
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