Parents in Sidmouth are being encouraged to vaccinate their children against measles after the UK lost its 'measles free' status.

Measles is a highly infectious disease which can only be controlled by vaccination.

In 2017 the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared that the UK had eliminated measles but that status has now been revoked.

In 2018 there was a significant increase in the number of confirmed measles cases, with 991 confirmed cases in England and Wales, compared to 284 cases in 2017.

Based on that information the WHO decided the UK could no longer be considered a measles free country.

East Devon District Council is encouraging parents to vaccinate their children against this highly infectious disease.

A spokesperson for East Devon Council took to Twitter to say: "The UK has lost its 'measles free' status. We must tackle online misinformation on some social media to stop the rise of measles.

"Vaccines protect children. If you are in doubt, ask your GP. It's never too late to get protected."

Measles vaccination alone has prevented 20 million measles cases and an estimated 4,500 deaths in the UK, according to Public Health England.

A spokesperson for Public Health England – South West said: "Measles can kill and is incredibly easy to catch, especially if you are not vaccinated.

"Even one child missing their vaccine is one too many – if you are in any doubt about your child's vaccination status, ask your GP as it's never too late to get protected.

"Elimination can only be sustained by maintaining and improving coverage of the MMR vaccine. Losing the elimination status is a stark reminder of how important it is that every eligible person gets vaccinated.

"It provides an opportunity to raise awareness of the potential risks posed by measles, the importance of vaccination and timely reporting of suspected cases to limit further spread."

If you would like to find out more about childhood vaccination, click the red button below.