Plea from Manchester health chiefs: Let’s not go back for the future. Why we have to keep Victorian diseases in the past

Don’t let history repeat itself, says Manchester’s public health team, as they urge parents and carers to take action now to stop preventable Victorian diseases like Measles and typhoid return

Their plea comes as schools prepare for summer and families are set to travel for their holidays – which also increases the possibility for picking up or spreading diseases in unvaccinated people.

In particular, cases of measles are starting to increase across the country. There was no vaccination available during the Victorian era, which meant rapid spread of the disease and the mortality rate was high from associated complications like pneumonia.

Without today’s knowledge and approach they were frequently limited to using soaps and oils. “We can’t go back to the past for the future,” says Dr Cordelle Ofori, Manchester’s Director of Public Health. “In Manchester we want everyone to have the chance to have as much protection as possible and take up our free vaccinations offer.

“It’s totally understandable that parents or carers want as much detail as possible about the vaccinations, so please do ask any questions from your doctor or pharmacist, or health champions in your areas. NHS-trained health champions are local people, who live near you and are able to ask questions to medical teams on your behalf.”

Cllr Thomas Robinson, Manchester City Council’s Executive Member for Healthy Manchester and Adult Social Care, continues: “It’s never too late to come forward for the MMR vaccination – and if you do not know if you or your family have had it, please ask your GP. Where there is no record of having had the vaccinations, it is better to have them to be on the safe side.”

As part of a preventative stance, Manchester is writing to all parents or carers of school-age children to give them more details on vaccinations and other travel advice.

This is so that parents can act quickly now through free vaccinations with their GP and also so that they are ready for when schools return in September.  Key travel advice for parents or carers ahead of the holidays has a focus on Hepatitis A, Typhoid, Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) – all of which were prevalent in Victorian times.

Hepatitis A This affects your liver. You can catch it from dirty water or food, or from someone who has it. Your child might:

• Feel very hot and tired
• Feel sick
• Have yellow eyes or skin
• Have dark urine
• Have a sore tummy

Typhoid This affects your whole body and can be very dangerous. Your child might:

• Feel very hot
• Have a headache
• Have sore muscles
• Have loose stools or constipation

Measles This spreads very easily from person to person. It can be very dangerous for young children and can even cause brain swelling. Your child might:

• Have a runny nose
• Sneeze and cough
• Have red, sore eyes
• Feel very hot
• Have red-brown spots on their skin