HEALTH experts are warning of a potential measles epidemic in Essex.

Figures from the Health Protection Agency revealed there were 22 cases of measles reported in Essex in 2008, out of 91 across the East of England.

While the number of outbreaks in the East of England fell by 68 from the 159 cases in 2007, the number across the country increased by 36 per cent to 1,348.

The agency says too few children are getting the mumps, measles and rubella, or MMR, vaccine in the county.

Figures show 85.8 per cent of Essex children receive the first dose of the vaccine by their fifth birthday, compared to a national average of 88.3 per cent.

Dr Joe Kearney, Health Protection Agency regional director for the East of England, said: “We’ve been fortunate to see fewer cases in 2008, but the evidence shows there’s a real risk of a large-scale measles epidemic because of the low coverage of MMR.

“We need that coverage to be up to 90 to 95 per cent to stop the virus spreading.

“Relatively low uptake over the past decade means there are now a large number of children not fully protected.

“As a result, measles is spreading easily among unvaccinated children.”

The agency is urging health trusts and doctors to find out which children need the vaccine and offer a catch-up immunisation.

Dr Kearney warned measles can lead to serious illness, including pneumonia and encephalitis, even in healthy children.

He said: “Unvaccinated children are at real risk. This is why it is incredibly important to warn parents and let them know it is never too late to get their children protected with the MMR.”

In the 1990s there was concern over a link between the MMR vaccine and autism, but this claim has since been discredited.