Parents warned that children who do not have MMR jab are 'highly likely' to contract the disease, as cases rise to 588
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The Guardian, Friday 5 April 2013 16.25 BST
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MMR vaccination offers the only protection against children with measles developing the more serious complications of pneumonia or encepahlitis. Photograph: Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images
A measles epidemic in Swansea is growing amid warnings that it is only a matter of time before a child dies or suffers serious permanent damage.
Public Health Wales (PHW) said on Friday that the number of cases had reached 588 – up 47 since Wednesday. Most of those affected are children, and parents have been warned that their offspring are "highly likely" to contract the disease if they do not have the MMR jab as soon as possible.
PHW said: "It is just a matter of time before a child is left with serious and permanent complications such as eye disorders, deafness or brain damage, or dies".
Take-up for the MMR vaccine dropped by 14% in south Wales in the late 1990s after research, subsequently discredited, raised health concerns over the jab and prompted a campaign against it by the South Wales Evening Post.
PHW said the number of people coming forward for the vaccination had increased but cases continue to be reported across Wales, with the majority in the Abertawe Bro Morgannwg, Powys and Hywel Dda health board areas.
Dr Marion Lyons, PHW's director of health protection, said the number of cases was alarming: "We are really pleased to see that 586 people have proactively got the MMR vaccine over the past week, on top of those already scheduled to have it.
"Though this is a good start, there are still thousands of children who have not had both doses of the MMR jab and so are still at risk from becoming infected with the potentially fatal measles virus.
"It's great to see that more parents are trusting the vaccine and I would encourage others to follow their lead. Measles cannot be taken lightly because you can never tell who will go on to develop the more serious complications of pneumonia or encephalitis (inflammation of the brain). MMR vaccination offers the only protection against these complications."
PHW says the likelihood that vaccinated children across the country will come into contact with those already infected is still high.
Drop-in MMR vaccination clinics are being held at hospitals in Swansea, Bridgend, Neath and Port Talbot on Saturday. Children and adolescents who have not had their scheduled MMR jabs will be targeted, but no-one will be turned away.
Figures released on Wednesday had shown a 25% jump in new cases reported over the Easter break.
