News: MMR reminder issued after further increase of measles in North Wales
1 May 2009, National Public Health Service for Wales (NPHS)The National Public Health Service for Wales (NPHS) is urging parents to make sure their children receive the MMR vaccination following further reports of measles in and around Llandudno.
The total number of cases of measles in individuals or families linked to the pupils already diagnosed with measles who attend Ysgol Ffordd Dyffryn and Ysgol John Bright, Llandudno, has now been confirmed as thirty-nine.
The NPHS is urging parents to contact their GP if their child has not received two doses of the MMR vaccine in order to limit the spread of the disease.
Dr Chris Whiteside , Consultant in Communicable Disease Control, NPHS, said: “Measles is a highly contagious infectious disease and children who have not been immunised are at risk. Measles can be a very serious disease and can cause severe, even life-threatening, complications or permanent harm.
“Parents can easily protect their children by having them immunised with the MMR vaccine – delivered in two doses to ensure the best protection against mumps and rubella as well as measles.
“After completing a two-dose course of MMR, 99 per cent of children will be protected against measles. Children who have only received one dose of MMR may not be protected.”
No evidence linking the outbreak of Measles in Llandudno to the outbreak in Pembrokeshire has been found so far.
More information about measles is available from this website at: http://www.wales.nhs.uk/sites3/page.cfm?orgId=719&pid=23148
Surveillance data for measles in Wales is available from the NPHS Health Protection website at: http://www.wales.nhs.uk/sites3/page.cfm?orgId=457&pid=25444
The uptake of childhood immunisations in Wales (which includes the MMR vaccination) is published on a quarterly basis in the NPHS COVER (Coverage of Vaccination Evaluated Rapidly) reports. These are available to view from: http://www.wales.nhs.uk/sites3/page.cfm?orgid=457&pid=27778
Previous related news stories
Further cases of measles in West Wales [published 22 April 2009]
Further cases of measles investigated in North Wales [published 17 April 2009]
Further cases of measles investigated in West Wales [published 9 April 2009]
MMR vaccination sessions in Llandudno GP practices after increase of measles in North Wales [published 7 April 2009]
MMR reminder after cases of measles in West Wales [published 6 April 2009]
MMR reminder issued after cases of measles in Llandudno [published 2 April 2009]