Tuesday, 12 November 2013
A report on the measles outbreak centred on Swansea has been published today (Tuesday 12 November) with 13 recommendations designed to stop further spread of the disease.
Between November 2012 and July 2013, a total of 1,202 cases of measles were reported in the outbreak, the largest seen in Wales since the introduction of the MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccine. Of these, 88 people were admitted to hospital and one 25 year old man died.
The report details how the outbreak unfolded and was brought to an end. It provides information of Public Health Wales laboratory testing showing that there were in fact four different outbreaks, based on four strains of the infection circulating at the same time.
It warns that, while 30,000 people between the ages of 10 and 18 remain unvaccinated in Wales, there is still the chance of further outbreaks.
It has been produced jointly with the three health boards who worked closely with Public Health Wales to control the outbreak – Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University Health Board, Hywel Dda Health Board and Powys teaching Health Board.
The report calls for the elimination of measles in Wales through “a policy of aggressive control of measles cases imported into or transmitted within Wales.”
In particular, it says that “assertive efforts should be made to target” teenagers. It recommends that the Welsh Government should commission a review looking at the issue of teenagers not being immunised, reviewing scientific evidence for what works and identifying areas for further research, if needed.
It also recommends that new places should be found for delivering MMR vaccination such as sexual health clinics.
With the support of health board staff, more than 70,000 doses of MMR were given throughout Wales by August 2013 – but uptake in the group hardest hit by the outbreak, children and young people aged 10 to 18, was disappointing.
Of an estimated 50,887 children in this age group requiring vaccination, only 21,493 came forward for vaccination.
Dr Marion Lyons, Director of Health Protection for Public Health Wales, said: “The report into the outbreak shows how four cases of measles contracted by children from Wales visiting a holiday camp in England became more than 1,200 cases in the space of eight months.
“The only guarantee against catching measles is receiving the full two doses of the MMR vaccine, and while we have 30,000 children and young people still needing vaccination, we can’t assume we will not see further outbreaks of this scale.
“With 88 people being admitted to hospital and one dying during this outbreak, it’s clear that measles is a serious illness and no parent or young person should believe it cannot happen to them.”
Dr Sara Hayes, Director of Public Health for ABMU Health Board, said: “I’d like to thank all those who helped bring the outbreak to an end – health board and local authority staff, head teachers, journalists, parents and the public.
“I urge the young people who did not take the vaccine to contact their doctor. It’s never too late and the outbreak has proved just how safe and effective it is.
“We are currently responding to a further outbreak of measles in the Neath area with 36 cases to date. This shows that, despite the large outbreak being over, measles is still a very real problem in Wales.”
MMR uptake across Wales dropped in the late 1990s due to parental concerns about the safety of the vaccine, but uptake was lower in the Swansea and Neath Port Talbot area where one in six 11-year-olds were unprotected in November 2012 compared with one in nine across the rest of Wales.
The report shows how efforts to end the outbreak were focused on vaccinating as many unprotected people as possible through school vaccination sessions, drop-in sessions at hospitals and vaccination through GP surgeries.
The first dose of MMR – which protects against mumps and rubella as well as measles - is usually given to babies at 12 months of age and the second at three years and four months of age, but it is never too late to catch up on missed doses.
The MMR vaccine is recommended by the World Health Organization, UK Department of Health and Public Health Wales as the most effective and safe way to protect children against measles.
Although there are no other reported cases of measles at present, Public Health Wales is reminding all parents in Wales that their children are at risk if not fully vaccinated with two doses of MMR. Vaccination can be arranged at any time via the family GP.
The symptoms of measles include a fever, fatigue, runny nose, conjunctivitis (pink eye) and a distinctive red rash.
Measles is very contagious and can cause serious complications and in rare cases can be fatal.
Anyone who thinks they or their child has the symptoms of measles should contact their GP or NHS Direct Wales on 0845 46 47.
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Source:
Public Health Wales
