Measles outbreak fears at summer festivals as music fans urged to get vaccinated

REVELLERS are being warned over fears of a measles outbreak at summer music festivals as people are urged to get vaccinated.

Public Health England says crowded environments with low levels of hygiene are "more at risk" of the disease spreading amid a surge of cases in the West Midlands.

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The government body said in a statement that music festivals “pose an ideal opportunity for the infection to spread quickly” and those with symptoms should avoid such events.

It comes as Coventry gears up to host the BBC’s Biggest Weekend festival this weekend.

The West Midlands has seen an outbreak in measles cases recently, with three times more cases reported in the first three months of the year compared with the same period in 2017.

The West Midlands branch of Public Health England issued a more specific warning.

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In a statement on Twitter, it said: “Measles is spreading around the West Midlands and festivals are a hotspot for them to spread.

“If you are going to the BBC Biggest Weekend and Biggest Weekend Fringe in Coventry, make sure you have had your MMR vaccines.”

The BBC event will also take place in three other cities this weekend, including Swansea, Perth and Belfast, with performances from headliners Taylor Swift, Liam Gallagher, Ed Sheeran and Florence + the Machine.

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It kicks off the UK's festival season with regulars like Isle of Wight, Bestival and Reading and Leeds Festivals taken place later in the summer.

The government agency previously issued measles outbreak warnings at festivals a couple of years ago when cases more than quadrupled.

In 2016, 234 people were diagnosed with measles between January and June, compared to just 54 people in the previous year.

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