Parents should have their children vaccinated against measles before they go back to school, public health officials said today, after an unexpected trebling of the number of cases of the illness this summer.

The Health Protection Agency (HPA) revealed that the number of children suffering from measles was higher than expected for this time of year.

Latest reports showed 480 cases of measles in the UK so far this year, up from just 136 in June. Last year, there was a total of 756 cases, making 2006 the worst year since records began in 1995.

Dr Mary Ramsay, a consultant epidemiologist at the HPA, said children should be given the complete MMR vaccine in two doses to protect them from measles, which can be life-threatening.

“Over the summer holidays we have seen more cases of measles being reported than we would normally expect," she said. "This means it is crucial that children are fully immunised with two doses of MMR before they return to school."

“Measles is a highly infectious and dangerous illness and, as there is increased close contact in schools, it can spread easily. Now is the time parents will be buying their children a new school uniform to prepare for the school year ahead, but being prepared to avoid infection is even more important.

“Parents should think about adding the MMR vaccine to their back to school ’to do’ list," said Dr Ramsay, who stressed that children must receive the full course of the vaccine. Between 5 and 10 per cent of children who just receive one dose rather than two are still vulnerable to infection. Around 16 per cent of children who are given the first dose do not turn up to receive the second.

The HPA said it was difficult to explain why there has been such an increase in cases in recent weeks, with infections occurring among unvaccinated school-age children across all social groups, not just among communities where vaccination rates are typically low. A spokeswoman said small outbreaks had occurred in primary schools and among familes who had travelled abroad.

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