MEASLES outbreaks in Lancashire have already exceed the total number of cases for the whole of last year leading to calls for parents to immunise their children against the disease.

There have been 96 confirmed cases of measles since January, higher than the 92 cases recorded last year.

Lancashire County Council’s new campaign is aiming to make parents aware that one in 10 children are at risk of measles because they are not fully immunised.

The campaign is encouraging parents with children aged between 10 and 16, who have not received the full, two-dose MMR vaccine to get the full protection of immunisation now.

County Coun Azhar Ali, cabinet member for health and wellbeing, said: “Measles is a highly infectious disease that can be very serious, leading to ear infections, fits, brain damage and even death.”

The campaign will send information to all parents of secondary school pupils and primary school pupils in years five and six.