Almost 700 cases in measles epidemic

Written By Unknown on Kamis, 11 April 2013 | 19.12

11 April 2013 Last updated at 07:42 ET

There has been a big jump in measles cases reported in the Swansea epidemic over the last two days, says Public Health Wales.

Another 73 cases brings the total to 693 and means it is now bigger than last year's outbreak in north west England.

Officials are still urging parents of unvaccinated children across Wales to get protection.

More drop-in clinics are taking place this weekend

The total number of cases in the outbreak centred on the Swansea area is now 693, up from 620 reported on Tuesday.

About 1,700 people received MMR jabs at drop-in clinics in Swansea, Neath Port Talbot and Bridgend last weekend.

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  • Swansea - Nov 2012 to 11 April 2013 - 693
  • Manchester 2012 - 111
  • Merseyside Jan 2012-Feb 2013- 622
  • Dublin 1999-2000 - 1,200 with three deaths

Despite welcoming the "excellent response," PHW says at least 6,000 children still have not had the MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine in the county of Swansea.

Officials said earlier this week there was no sign of a slow down in cases.

The outbreak prompted US-based measles expert Dr Paul Offit to call for mandatory vaccinations to be considered.

He said a similar policy in America had increased vaccination rates.

However, the Welsh government said it was not considering compulsory vaccination.

It said the outbreak was a "legacy of a damaging and unfounded health scare in the late 1990s," but said trust in MMR jabs had "been regained".

A spokesman said: "We believe that at this point, the hard-won trust in the MMR vaccine and in GPs would be damaged by introducing compulsory vaccination."

Earlier this week, PHW said it followed UK policy not to give mandatory vaccinations, adding: "Vaccinating your child is a parental choice and we respect that."

Extra clinics

The Swansea outbreak began last November and PHW believe it has not yet peaked.

On Tuesday, the number of cases was two short of the total in the outbreak in the north west of England which began in February 2012.

Most of these cases were on Merseyside, in Greater Manchester and west Lancashire.

More hospital drop-in clinics will be held in Swansea, Neath Port Talbot and Bridgend on Saturday, targeting children and adolescents who did not have their scheduled MMR jabs as babies and toddlers.

PHW has said not enough children aged 10 to 17 are coming forward for the jabs, and have urged parents to get their children vaccinated through GPs.

Meanwhile health officials from the Cardiff and Vale University Health Board say they are planning to hold drop-in vaccination clinics at Cardiff Royal Infirmary and Llandough Hospital on Saturday as a "sensible precaution" given the epidemic in Swansea.

Dr Tom Porter, consultant in public health medicine, said: "We have not seen a local outbreak in the Cardiff and Vale area yet but it is important that children and teenagers have both [MMR] jabs given how serious the risks are from measles.

"We estimate around 13,000 children under 19 have not had two MMRs and are not adequately protected and would urge parents to take up this opportunity or to contact their GP to make an appointment locally."


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