JUST one case of measles was reported in the West Midlands in the second half of 2013.

Figures released by Public Health England showed one case of the disease was reported in the region in October, compared with 58 in the first six months of the year.

The organisation launched a national programme last year to ensure at last 95 per cent of 10 to 16-year-olds had been given the MMR vaccine after rates of the potentially fatal disease increased to its highest level since 1995 in the first three months of 2013.

Public Health England's lead consultant for immunisation in the West Midlands Dr Musarrat Afza said he was delighted by the figures.

“The best way to prevent measles outbreaks is to ensure good uptake of the MMR vaccine across all age groups, so it’s heartening to see the success the catch-up programme had in ensuring 95 per cent of 10 to 16 year olds in England received at least one dose of the vaccine," he said.

“Although mumps has increased a little from the same quarter of last year the numbers remain much lower than the levels seen in 2004/5, when outbreaks were reported in several universities.

"This probably reflects the fact that most young people now attending university were eligible for two doses of MMR as children.”