Parents in Bradford have been warned to protect their children against measles after a case in the district was identified.

It is the first time in two years that anyone in Bradford has caught the disease, which can kill or cause brain damage, as well as result in serious complications such as pneumonia, meningitis and encephalitis.

The parents of a three-year-old, who live in north Bradford, took their child to a GP after it began to feel unwell in June.

The GP suspected measles and alerted public health chiefs who carried out swab tests. This week those test results revealed the child is almost certainly suffering from measles.

Investigations are still going on to find out where the child, who had had one MMR jab, contracted the disease, but it is believed to have originated in England.

Although there are up to 30 suspected cases in the district each year, this is the first time it looks likely to be measles. It is six months since any cases in Yorkshire have been confirmed.

Dr Ruth Gelletlie, consultant in communicable disease control for Bradford, based at North Bradford Primary Care Trust, said: "The public health nurse visited the case to take a saliva sample that was sent off for testing.

"The results this week suggest that the child has measles. We are very keen to take action immediately to prevent further spread.

"We have spoken to GPs and staff in local hospitals to tell them to look out for further cases. Of course I am concerned. I have seen measles and I know the dangers, but this is one case and not an outbreak.

"We are taking steps, such as tracing who the child has been in contact with and checking levels of immunisation."

Dr Gelletlie said all parents now needed to be vigilant for signs of measles in their children. "If your child feels unwell with a cold, runny nose, soreness, a high fever, and a rash which appears a few days later, visit your GP.

"The best way of protecting children is to take advantage of the good, safe MMR vaccine which is available to all parents.

"The child in this case has had one MMR jab but there is always a ten per cent chance this will not produce a sufficiently good response which is why children need a second booster jab at pre-school age.

"The child has now recovered and the parents are happy to collaborate with us because they are in favour of the MMR vaccination.

At present, in the area covered by North Bradford Primary Care Trust, Bradford South and West Primary Care Trust, and Bradford City Primary Care Trust, 87.9 per cent of two-year-old children are vaccinated against measles, mumps and rubella.

This high figure is the result of a concerted campaign by health officials in the district to persuade parents to take advantage of the MMR vaccination, the safety of which has been called into question by Dr Andrew Wakefield, who linked it to autism and bowel conditions.

Fears over the safety of the jab have led to a fall in the uptake of MMR in other parts of the country, with some parents requesting single vaccines, which are not available on the NHS.

But Dr Gelletlie said these fears are unfounded. "I have two children who have been vaccinated and I understand parents' fears," she said. "But there is not one single country which recommends single jabs. MMR is the recognised vaccine worldwide .

"The safety profile of single jabs is not known. If you split the jabs up you leave your child exposed for longer and have to come in six times instead of two, plus they might not be as effective. There is no scientific evidence.

"All responsible health bodies are unanimous that MMR is the safest way to protect children."