Vaccination call after outbreak of measles

PARENTS are being urged to vaccinate their children following an outbreak of measles in Oldham and north-east Manchester.

A total of six confirmed cases and one probable case of measles have been reported in the past week among children aged one to 17.

Three of the youngsters have required treatment in hospital.

Parents are being urged to protect their children with two doses of MMR vaccine.

Dr Rosemary McCann, consultant in communicable disease control with the Health Protection Agency, said: “These cases prove that it is vitally important for children to have both doses of MMR, which will give life-long protection against measles, mumps and rubella.

“These are potentially serious illnesses and up to one-in-three children and young people in these areas are not fully immunised and could catch measles.

“We are advising parents that if their child has missed one or both doses of MMR, they should contact their GP to arrange vaccination.”

These are the first confirmed cases of measles in the whole of Greater Manchester this year.

Last year, there were 25 confirmed cases in Greater Manchester and six in Manchester itself.

Alan Higgins, director of public health for Oldham, said: “We know that in Oldham, as in Manchester and other parts of the country, there are a number of children, teenagers and young adults who have not had two doses of MMR vaccine.

“We’ve been offering catch-up clinics for older children for some time and working hard with GPs to make sure that younger children get the vaccinations they need.

“To help make it as easy as possible for parents to get their children vaccinated, we’ve set up an information line which will be open from Monday (16) 2pm-7pm each weekday.

“The number is 0800-0151286.

“People who aren’t sure if their child has had the two doses can phone up to speak to a trained nurse.

“She will then be able to check whether their child is fully protected and, if not, direct them to a specially arranged catch up clinic or advise them about extra sessions being put on at their local doctor’s surgery.

“She will also be able to answer general questions people have about MMR.”

Measles is an infectious viral illness that is spread by droplets in the air when infected people cough or sneeze.

The most common symptoms are fever, cough, sore eyes and a rash.

Most patients make a full recovery, but some will experience serious complications that can include pneumonia, meningitis and on rare occasions, death.

The MMR vaccine is usually given to children at around 13 months old, with a second dose before they start school.

Dr McCann said: “Although we are only aware of a small number of cases at present, with so many unvaccinated children, there is a high risk of further spread if we don’t take action.”

For more details, go to www.immunisation.nhs.uk or www.hpa.org.uk

These symptoms are commonly seen in measles infection:

::Fever

::Cough

::Sore and watering eyes

::Widespread rash that develops 3-4 days after the onset of the illness, starting with the face and head and spreading down the body.

Complications from measles include ear infection, diarrhoea, pneumonia or meningitis and are most likely in people with a weakened immune system or in infants under the age of one.

People are infectious from just before the time they become unwell to around four days after the onset of the rash.

Those affected should stay off school or work for five days from the onset of the rash