More than 100 people in Brighton and Hove are believed to have been struck down by measles this year alone.

The figure emerged during a Department of Health awareness roadshow being held on the seafront.

Brighton and Hove director of public health Tom Scanlon yesterday warned there could be more cases to come when children go back to school next month.

There have been around 60 confirmed cases of the virus in the city since January and a further 50 probable cases.

Only six cases were confirmed in the city for the whole of 2008.

Brighton and Hove is one of 12 locations in England classed as a measles hotspot by the Department of Health.

The day-long roadshow, called Measles: Is Your Child Safe?, was aimed at raising awareness of the impact measles can have and the importance of getting children vaccinated with the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) jab.

Public health managers in the city say the virus is now out in the community and has been affecting adults as well as children.

Part of the concern is that cases have been passed between individuals within the community and not contained just among family members.

Some cases were so serious that patients had to be hospitalised.

The situation is being blamed on the poor take-up of MMR.

It now stands at about 83%, well short of the 95% recommended by the World Health Organisation as needed to protect a community.

More than 10,000 people under 18 in Brighton and Hove have not had either the first MMR dose or the second follow-up.

Children need to be vaccinated at just under two and again just before they start school.

Dr Scanlon said: “We are pleased to have the roadshow here and welcome anything that may help us boost take up rates.

“There has been a lot of interest throughout the day with many people coming up to ask questions.

“Our take-up rate is gradually going up but there is still a long way to go.

“There have not been any new confirmed cases in the city for a few weeks and we believe that is down to the schools being closed.

“However the virus is still circulating in the city and it is very possible that when the schools reopen more cases will emerge.

“I would urge anyone who has not had their child vaccinated to get it done as quickly as they can.”

Around one in 15 children who catch measles will develop more serious complications like deafness, meningitis or brain damage.

One in 5,000 who contract the virus will die.

The year before the MMR vaccine was introduced, 86,000 children caught measles and 16 died.