Ben Kasstan-Dabush

Purple graphic with white text reading: "This is a worrying time for parents and the immediate priority is to ensure that all children catch-up on any missed vaccinations." Ben Kasstan-Dabush, Assistant Professor of Global Health & Development, LSHTM

Could a #measles outbreak in #London affect me?

LSHTM expert @benk-d.bsky.social gives advice to parents including to check children are up to date on #vaccines

Also: Confused? 😵‍💫 We answer common questions about measles & vaccines

Find out more 👉 www.lshtm.ac.uk/newsevents/n...

Unsure if your 👶 is up to date with their 💉? Qs about #MMR or #measles outbreaks? ☎️ your #GP surgery before going down the 🐇 hole of online spaces to find answers. Thanks to Pete & Kirsty from the LSHTM press team, who work tirelessly to bridge research with the worlds that people live in.

‘We almost lost you in the night’ - the life-threatening rise of measles in the UK It is one of the most infectious diseases around, and can cause blindness and hearing loss – and can also be fatal. Why are cases now soaring and what can be done about it?

UK continues to see #measles outbreaks, the latest in North London schools

This follows year-on-year decline in measles #vaccine uptake.

@benk-d.bsky.social talks to @theguardian.com about the complex factors behind rise of measles in UK:

www.theguardian.com/society/2026...

#PublicHealth

SCGA The State of the World: Pandemic Preparedness Roundtable on pandemic preparedness in Scotland: what it should look like, how to achieve it and what Covid-19 teaches us for future plans.

Dr Ben Kasstan-Dabush, lecturer in Global Health Policy at the @edinburgh-uni.bsky.social & SCGA management team member, is organising a State of the World Pandemic Preparedness event at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh, 2 March.
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1981856658... @benk-d.bsky.social

BREAKING NEWS: UK loses its #measles elimination status

@benk-d.bsky.social highlights failure to reach 95% measles #vaccine coverage target in UK

+ need for secure funding for vaccine outreach efforts & joined-up #PublicHealth response

Read more: www.lshtm.ac.uk/newsevents/n...

Crumbling health systems fuelling global surge in measles, scientists warn Experts say that a ‘generational decline in living standards’ could be behind waning rates of vaccination

What's fuelling global surge in #measles?

@benk-d.bsky.social tells The Independent cuts have hampered response to vaccine #misinformation & clear evidence #austerity measures in certain areas are “correlated with declining vaccine uptake”.

👉 www.independent.co.uk/news/world/m...

This week we* were treated to a moving and candid conversation between author Yehudis Fletcher and host Ben Kasstan-Dabush @benk-d.bsky.social about Fletcher's gripping memoir 'Chutzpah: A Memoir of Faith, Sexuality and Daring to Stay'

*including a dog!

If you enjoyed @lshtm.bsky.social UNPACKED, then this podcast synethesises a range of presentations & talks. Catch me discussing how healthcare workers can see themselves as offering 'culturally appropriate care,' but actually mislead patients by withholding choices pod.link/1497329104/e...

Concern at US move to multiple vaccinations over single #MMRV vaccine

@benk-d.bsky.social explains that consensus is critical for healthcare practitioners to recommend #vaccines so parents are confident of best choices to protect their children.

www.lshtm.ac.uk/newsevents/n...

Misinformation warning issued as more children starting school without vaccinations None of the main childhood vaccines in England reached the 95 per cent target this year, health officials warn

#Misinformation warning issued as more children starting school without #vaccinations

In the Independent @benk-d.bsky.social urges caution over #vaccine info on social media & advises checking #NHS website or with GP amid low uptake of childhood vaccines.

www.independent.co.uk/news/health/...

Decline in UK childhood vaccine uptake Coordinate action to improve confidence and convenience In England, none of the childhood vaccine programmes attained the World Health Organization recommended 95% coverage target in 2023-24.1 Covera...

Decline in UK childhood vaccine uptake

In @bmj.com, @benk-d.bsky.social & Tracey Chantler argue coordinated action needed to improve #vaccine confidence & convenience to combat outbreaks affecting children in disadvantaged areas.

www.bmj.com/content/390/...

Cases of the world's most infectious disease keep climbing in the UK British health chiefs already sounded the alarm over a spike in cases earlier this year; last year saw the highest number of infections recorded annually since 2012.

Cases of most infectious disease keep climbing in UK with 2 major areas most at risk

In The Daily Mail, @benk-d.bsky.social discusses tackling low #MMR uptake as North West & London report highest #measles cases & Hackney lowest coverage by a local authority.

www.dailymail.co.uk/health/artic...

Measles: Parents urged to vaccinate after child in Liverpool dies Alder Hey Children’s Hospital has said that it is treating an increasing number of children for measles, amid reports that a child died after contracting the infection.1 The Times reported that a chi...

'England offers an insight into the global picture of declining vaccination coverage, and the consequences,' @benk-d.bsky.social, @lshtm.bsky.social, @bmj.com, 'measles outbreaks disproportionately affect more disadvantaged areas.' See also: @helenebedford.bsky.social
www.bmj.com/content/390/...

Job Opportunity at LSHTM: Research Assistant The London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) is one of the world’s leading public health universities. Our mission is to improve health and health equity in the UK and worldwide; working i...

Come & work with me @benvyle.bsky.social @lshtm.bsky.social & @thelovetankcic.bsky.social Research Assistant with funded PhD within multidisciplinary project on Syphilis & STI control in the UK. Working with us to understand stakeholder & community perspectives on novel STI control strategies

Catch me in @telegraphnews.bsky.social reminding readers that #measles is not benign & it is a big responsibility to care for an infected child. They can deteriorate quickly & there is a risk of encephalitis. Don't wait to #vaccinate 💉=💛

West parents warned as fifth of UK measles cases in region Parents are being urged to get their children vaccinated after hundreds of cases

West parents warned as fifth of UK measles cases in region

In Bristol Live @benk-d.bsky.social & @alxsrobert.bsky.social discuss why #vaccination is best protection against #measles as new figures from UKHSA show cases rising in Bristol & South West England.

www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol...

Expert Comment – Measles cases increase by 20% globally | LSHTM Measles infections are rising globally, according to new figures published by the World Health Organization (WHO). Since 2022, cases have increased by 20%, with an estimated 10.3 million infections

Austerity, the COVID-19 pandemic, health inequalities, complacency about rarely-seen diseases, and many other factors have all contributed to a decline in vaccine coverage. For more about this, and how we respond, see this excellent comment from @benk-d.bsky.social: www.lshtm.ac.uk/newsevents/n...

Thanks so much for the shout out! 💉=💛

Newborn babies exposed to measles in Texas hospital Infants barely three days old are receiving antibody injections to help protect against the virus. Nearly 300 cases have been reported in the outbreak.

"Doctors didn’t realize until the young mother had been admitted and in labor that she was infected with the #measles."

Might be worth digging around for your infection control protocols #IDSky #MedSky + #ObGynSky.

www.nbcnews.com/health/healt...

Measles highest in 25 years in European region, WHO says Children under five constituted more than 40% of the cases reported in Europe and Central Asia last year.

We are all vulnerable to #misinformation on social media. But #vaccine information on social media may not be based on scientific evidence, pls look for recognised logos for reassurance. Me in #BBC 👇🏽
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Measles cases in European region doubled last year to highest since 1997, say WHO and UNICEF More than 40% of the European region cases were children under five, as the two organisations appealed for urgent action to increase vaccination levels.

Data shows that #measles cases increased across the @whoeurope.bsky.social region last year & the UK was hit with major #outbreaks. It is never too late to get vaccinated & you can always call your GP surgery to check your / your child's #immunisation status. Me on 💉 👇🏽
news.sky.com/story/measle...

#Measles cases in the @whoeurope.bsky.social region soared in 2024. Let's not reduce this only to #vaccine hesitancy, it's a huge region with different ways of delivering #immunisations. #PublicHealth investment is constantly at risk, but is vital for engagement & outreach. Me in the media 💉=💛

Cases of deadly measles rocket to highest level in 25 years Global health leaders said rates on the continent had doubled in the last year alone, with low uptake of the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine threatening to further the spread.

#Measles surge: cases rise to highest level in 25 years

As WHO report cases up across Europe, @benk-d.bsky.social tells @dailymail.co.uk "it's never too late to get vaccinated" & for info "check with credible sources like the NHS website."

www.dailymail.co.uk/health/artic...

An unvaccinated school-age #child has died from #measles in Texas. The Trump administration has put #vaccine safety revisionist in charge of the US health apparatus & they are dismantling #publichealth as we know it. County health departments will need support.
www.dshs.texas.gov/news-alerts/...

Please follow @onehealthtrust.bsky.social and other #OneHealth accounts

A pleasure to join @maggiefox.bsky.social & @onehealthtrust.bsky.social to talk about #vaccines, #measles & sharing responsibility for community health 💉=💛

Very pleased to share @benk-d.bsky.social and @asu-chpdp.bsky.social very own Dr. Rachel Gur-Arie's correspondence in @nature.com focused on the importance of maintaining funding for vaccination efforts in the United States.

www.nature.com/articles/d41...