Child dies at Alder Hey after contracting measles

An Alder Hey Children's NHS Foundation Trust spokesperson said: "To respect patient confidentiality, we can't comment on individual cases.

"We are concerned about the increasing number of children and young people who are contracting measles.

"Measles is a highly contagious viral illness which can cause children to be seriously unwell, requiring hospital treatment, and in rare cases, death."

Patients at the site include those with compromised immunity due to other health issues "making them more susceptible to infections, including measles", the spokesperson added.

The hospital warned parents earlier this week that a fall in measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine uptake was behind the spike in cases in the region.

Chief nurse Nathan Askew said he felt misunderstandings around the vaccine were to blame.

"This vaccine's been in use for well over 50 years. It's very safe, tried and tested," he said.

There have been 500 cases of measles this year in England, with the rise blamed on the falling uptake of the MMR vaccine.

The World Health Organization (WHO) wants 95% of children fully vaccinated by their fifth birthday.

In the north-west of England the figure is 85%, with lower rates of 73% per cent in Liverpool and 75% Manchester, according to NHS data.

Consultant epidemiologist Dr Vanessa Saliba from the UK Health Security Agency said: "Measles is one of the most highly infectious diseases and spreads rapidly among those who are unvaccinated.

"It is a particularly nasty disease for any child and sadly for some children can be serious, leading to complications especially in young infants and those with a weakened immune system, and on rare occasions can tragically cause death."

Measles infections usually start with cold-like symptoms such as a runny nose and coughing and sneezing, according to the NHS.

This is followed within days by a distinctive blotchy rash, which usually starts on the face and spreads to the rest of the body.

A joint report by the WHO and the UN children's fund, Unicef, recently found that the number of measles cases in Europe has reached its highest level in 25 years.

Professor Matthew Ashton, Liverpool director of public health, said one person with measles can infect 15 others.

He said there was "no link whatsoever" between the MMR vaccine and autism and this claim had been disproved several times.