Parents are being warned to immunise their children against measles after an increase in reported cases in Kent.

Between January and September 2008 the county has seen a total of 23 cases, compared with seven breakouts in the same period last year.

Letters have been sent to parents of Medway school children advising them to take advantage of a vaccination catch-up campaign.

The letter from Dr Mathi Chandrakumar, director of the Kent health protection unit, points out the common complications of measles including ear infections, convulsions and pneumonia.

Gary Culver, medical secretary from the Kent Local Medical Committee, said the increase is due to the reduced uptake of the vaccination that fights against measles, mumps and rubella.

Mr Culver said: “There have been a number of scares in the last few years over the MMR jab but it’s a safe immunisation that will prevent measles, which in a small percentage of children can be life-threatening.”

For more information on measles visit www.hpa.org.uk