News: Measles update for 17 August 2009

Dr Marion Lyons, Head of the Health Protection Teams for the NPHS, said: “The declaration of a new measles outbreak in Merthyr Tydfil should serve as a reminder to the parents of unvaccinated children that we will continue to see clusters of cases that spread rapidly until we reach our target for MMR vaccination.

“Parents need to be concerned if their children are not vaccinated, regardless of where they live in Wales.  There remains a serious risk to any child who has not received two doses of the MMR vaccine.

“Although most patients in the current outbreak are recovering well, 41 people have needed hospital treatment. Children can be left permanently brain damaged or can even die of measles.  Complications of mumps include meningitis and deafness.  If your child is not vaccinated, we cannot guarantee they will not catch measles and we cannot guarantee they will make a full recovery if they do become unwell.

“The MMR vaccine is safe, effective and the only protection against measles. The vaccine also provides protection against mumps, which is currently also on the increase in Wales.

“People most at risk of catching measles are children of school age who have not had two doses of MMR or children between the ages of one and three who missed their first MMR dose at 13 months.

“We estimate that there are around 45,000 school age children at risk of measles in Wales at present due to their MMR status.  Children should have their immunisation record, including MMR status, checked at the beginning of primary and secondary school and on leaving secondary school.” 

• Many people who catch measles will have a fever, cough, red eyes, and blocked nose and feel generally unwell. The blotchy rash appears a few days later beginning on the face and spreading downwards to the rest of the body over several days.  Typically, people will be infectious from the day before their first symptoms until four to five days after the appearance of the rash.

• Parents who think their child has measles-like symptoms should keep them away from school and contact their GP or NHS Direct Wales on 0845 46 47.

• The only protection against measles is two doses of the MMR vaccine, which is safe and effective.  Children should receive the first dose of MMR at 13 months of age and the second dose at around three years and four months of age.

• Parents whose children are overdue for their MMR vaccination should speak to their GP.

• Children who are not old enough to be vaccinated do not need their vaccinations to be brought forward as a result of this outbreak.  However, anyone old enough to be vaccinated who has not received two doses of MMR is putting younger children at risk of measles.

• Routine measles vaccination was introduced in the UK in 1968.  The MMR vaccination against measles, mumps and rubella was introduced in 1988.  One dose of the MMR vaccination provides 90 per cent protection against measles; two doses provides 99 per cent protection.  A small number of patients confirmed with measles in the current outbreak have received one dose of MMR while the others have received no vaccination at all.

• The latest MMR uptake figures from the National Public Health Service for Wales show that for the first quarter of 2009 (January to March), 89.6 per cent of children reaching their second birthday had received one dose of the MMR vaccine and 83.4 per cent of children reaching their fifth birthday had received two doses of the MMR vaccine.  Herd immunity – the point at which measles is eradicated because so many people are vaccinated that it cannot spread – requires 95 per cent vaccine uptake. 

• The NPHS Health Protection Teams are working closely with local health professionals to reach unvaccinated children and provide them with vaccination. 

• Statistics now available for the Swansea, Bridgend and Neath Port Talbot areas show that although 948 children in the three counties have received two doses of the MMR vaccine since May 2009 and a further 3,494 have received one dose, 10,820 children have received no MMR vaccination at all and remain at risk from measles.  The press release on MMR uptake in this area was issued on 6 August and can be found at: http://www.wales.nhs.uk/sites3/news.cfm?orgid=719&contentid=12792

• All nurseries, primary and secondary schools in the areas of Wales with the highest incidence of measles have now received a copy of the DVD “Immunisation – why our children must be protected” from the National Public Health Service for Wales.

• All Welsh universities and Further Education colleges have received a copy of the patient information leaflet “MMR, Aged between 16 and 25?” with advice regarding the importance of sharing this information with their students and details on how to get further supplies.

• The Chief Medical Officer for Wales, Dr Tony Jewell, has written to community leaders asking for their support in encouraging parents to ensure that their children are fully vaccinated.

• Further information on measles can be found on the NPHS website at: http://www.wales.nhs.uk/sites3/page.cfm?orgId=719&pid=23148

• Further information on mumps can be found on the NPHS website at: http://www.wales.nhs.uk/sites3/page.cfm?orgId=719&pid=23312

• The latest COVER report showing uptake of all childhood vaccines in Wales between January and March 2009 is available at: http://www.wales.nhs.uk/sites3/Documents/457/Cover%202009%20quarter1%20%28COVER90%29.pdf