YOUNG people registered with Swindon GP surgeries will be invited in for a measles vaccination.

It came as a new measles case was logged at a surgery in the town, raising fears that Swindon could fall prey to the virus currently sweeping across the region.

Swindon Clinical Commissioning Group clinical chair Peter Mack said that practices had been funded to give out the measles vaccination.

He added: “We are mounting an additional campaign to ask practices to write to those individuals and invite them in to have the vaccination if it’s appropriate.”

Speaking at a meeting of Swindon CCG’s governing body, Dr Mack said: “We have a relatively higher level of vaccination in Swindon than has been the case in Avon, Somerset and Bristol. In those areas there have been a growing number of new cases in children and in adults.

“To that end there is a drive to increase the level of measles vaccination in the whole population but particularly in those 16-25-year-olds who are the more mobile members of the population who may be going to festivals, university and the like, where they may be more likely to catch things.”

Measles is a highly infectious virus, characterised by cold-like symptoms and a distinctive blotchy red rash.

This winter there have been a score of measles outbreaks across southern England. In the latest outbreak this week, 15 West Sussex schoolchildren were forced to stay at home after contracting the virus.

For more about measles vaccinations, contact your GP.