Warning of measles epidemic spread

Written By Unknown on Sabtu, 13 April 2013 | 19.21

13 April 2013 Last updated at 07:21 ET
Child being immunised

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Health officials want to prevent a spread of the epidemic

Fears have been raised that the measles epidemic could spread from Swansea amid concerns that over 40,000 children are still unvaccinated in Wales.

The number of cases in the outbreak has risen to 693 and more hospitals are offering free MMR jabs in south Wales in a bid to tackle the problem.

Dr Meirion Evans of Public Health Wales (PHW) said that numbers could "easily double" as thousands of children have still not had two MMR vaccines.

He added no part of the UK was safe.

Dr Evans said that the epidemic centred around Swansea is a result of a 10 to 15 year "legacy" of concern about the MMR (measles mumps rubella) jab.

Rowan Walters is given the MMR jab at a drop-in clinic in Swansea

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It followed a now discredited report by Dr Andrew Wakefield in the late 1990s which linked the vaccine with autism.

Dr Evans, a consultant epidemiologist, told BBC Radio Wales that as a result, there are many parts of the UK which do not have vaccination rates high enough to stop the spread of measles.

"Across Wales as a whole there are many, many children who have not had their MMR - we estimate over 40,000 children across Wales - so there is a real possibility that it could seed from Swansea to other parts of Wales and potentially take a grip there," he said.

"Nowhere in Wales is safe from measles and I think that is true of the UK as a whole."

He warned that the outbreak could last until the summer holidays as the disease can spread rapidly in schools.

'Significant spread'

Meanwhile, drop-in clinics will be held later for the first time in Cardiff, the Vale of Glamorgan, Newport and Ystrad Mynach near Caerphilly as a precaution.

Dr Tom Porter, a consultant with Cardiff and Vale University Health Board, said that while there was not yet an outbreak in the area, doctors were seeing cases being imported from elsewhere in Wales.

"It's probably a matter of sooner or later seeing significant spread within Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan," he added.

Continue reading the main story
  • How safe is it to take children to mainland Europe who have had two doses of the MMR vaccine?

It gives 99% protection against the measles virus.

  • What if they have had only one dose of MMR?

One dose is better than none, but two doses is better than one. If you are concerned about travelling to an outbreak area you can bring forward the second MMR dose. Speak to your GP about it.

  • What if my children are not vaccinated at all?

The advice is to go to your GP and arrange for them to be immunised as soon as possible before you travel. Measles is a dangerous viral illness that can be fatal.

BBC Health - Measles

Warning of measles epidemic spread

"We know at the moment not enough people are protected from measles which means probably we will get an outbreak and we want to make sure enough people are protected."

He added that an estimated 13,000 children under 19 have not had both recommended MMR jabs in the health board area.

More than 1,700 were vaccinated at hospital drop-in clinics in Swansea, Neath Port Talbot and Bridgend last Saturday, with another 900 vaccinated in the Swansea area last week.

Abertawe Bro Morgannwg health board will hold more sessions from 10:00-16:00 BST on Saturday at Swansea's Morriston and Singleton hospitals along with Neath Port Talbot Hospital and the Princess of Wales Hospital in Bridgend.

Some GP surgeries are also laying on special vaccination sessions next week, while children will be given the jab at schools in the area as they return to lessons on Monday after the Easter break.

Cardiff and Vale University Health Board is holding sessions at Cardiff Royal Infirmary and at University Hospital Llandough, also from 10:00-16:00 BST.

Aneurin Bevan Health Board is running sessions from 11:00-15:00 BST at Bellevue Surgery in Newport and Ysbyty Ystrad Fawr in Ystrad Mynach.

Vaccine

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Prof David Salisbury, Director of Immunisation: "Children from 15 years ago - they're the ones we need to get back and vaccinate"

No appointments are needed for any of the clinics which are for children and teenagers who have not had two MMR jabs.

Cwm Taf Health Board in the south Wales valleys is not holding drop-in sessions but is advising people to contact their GP for a vaccination.

PHW has warned that despite previous immunisations the outbreak, which began in November, has not been brought under control.

Although the epidemic is based in Swansea, cases continue to be reported across Wales. Officials have raised concerns about the number of cases in Powys.

Measles is caused by a virus spread in droplets and is easy to catch by those who have not been vaccinated.

Typical symptoms of measles include fever, cough, conjunctivitis and a rash. Complications are quite common even in healthy people, and about 20% of reported measles cases experience one or more complication.

The death rate is around one in every 1,000 infected in developed countries.


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