The number of hospital admissions for measles has increased by 66% in the past year, new figures released by NHS Digital have shown.
The Hospital Admitted Patient Care Activity Report released this week by NHS Digital has shown that there were 328 admissions for measles in England in the 2018/19 financial year.
This represents an increase of 66%, up from 198 in 2017/18.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson highlighted the urgent action required to halt the spread of measles in August, after the World Health Organization announced that the UK was no longer considered measles free.
Earlier this month, it was revealed that almost 300 community pharmacies have signed up to deliver measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccinations after the urgent call to increase uptake.
Training provider PharmaDoctor said it would be 'crazy' for the Government not to commission community pharmacy to deliver the MMR jab in light of the spike in cases.
The figures come as Public Health England (PHE) confirmed that mumps cases in England hit their highest level in ten years.
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