UK measles cases triple in 11 weeks
Pastor Dale Morgan
UK measles cases triple in 11 weeks*
By Emma Henry and agencies
Last Updated: 3:49pm BST 30/08/2007
Parents were urged today to give their children the MMR jab before they
returned to school after figures showed measles cases have more than
trebled in the last 11 weeks.
MMR jabs have been avoided
Measles outbreaks are higher in areas where vaccine uptake has been lower
There have been 480 confirmed cases in the UK so far this year, compared
to 756 cases during the whole of 2006 - the highest year on record.
The Health Protection Agency (HPA) said the number of confirmed cases of
children suffering measles was higher than expected for this time of
year and urged parents to ensure their children were vaccinated.
Up until June 10 this year, 136 cases of measles, which can be
life-threatening, had been confirmed by the HPA.
But as of today, just over 11 weeks later, this had more than trebled to
480.
Dr Mary Ramsay, a consultant epidemiologist at the HPA, said: "Over the
summer holidays we have seen more cases of measles being reported than
we would normally expect.
"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."
The HPA said while was difficult to confirm reasons why there has been
such a jump in recent weeks, a high number of cases has been noted in
communities where vaccine uptake is lower, including travelling families.
But, the HPA said, cases are also currently occurring in unvaccinated
school-age children across all social groups.
Over the course of the year, there have also been small outbreaks in
primary schools and cases in people returning from other countries, a
spokeswoman said.
Dr Ramsay urged parents to make sure their children received two doses
of the MMR vaccine.
She said: "Public confidence in the MMR vaccine continues to remain high
as the uptake for those receiving their first dose has stayed stable.
"However, it is also important to remember that children should complete
their full course of MMR vaccine.
"In January to March 2007 uptake of the MMR vaccine was at 88 per cent
for the first dose but only 74 per cent for the second dose.
"After the first dose, between 5 per cent and 10 per cent of children
are not protected against measles, hence two doses of MMR will gives
better protection.
"It also important to remember it is never too late to get vaccinated."
An HPA spokeswoman said it was too early to say whether 2007 would prove
to be the highest year on record since monitoring began in 1995.