Measles alert

Parents warned to protect children after new outbreak

THE Health Protection Agency (HPA) is urging parents to check their children’s’ vaccinations are up to date following an outbreak of measles in Salford.

Since April, 25 cases of measles — mostly in teenagers and babies — have been reported in the Winton and Irlam areas.

Four of the children were kept in hospital but have made a full recovery. One adult with other underlying medical conditions is also affected and is recovering in hospital.

Dr Rosemary McCann, consultant in communicable disease control with the HPA’s Greater Manchester Health Protection Unit, said: “Two doses of MMR are needed for protection against measles, mumps and rubella.

“MMR is a safe and effective vaccine. Measles is a serious illness that can have potentially dangerous side-effects.

“It is particularly severe in children with other underlying chronic health conditions, including those whose immune systems are not working properly. In rare cases measles can kill.”

Dr McCann stressed that it is important for parents to keep children with suspected measles away from nursery, school or child care facilities until five days after the onset of the rash to avoid infecting others.

Jean Mullineux, NHS Salford’s associate director of health protection, said: “All children over 14 months old in Salford have been invited for MMR immunisation and over 40,000 between the ages of 14 months and 16 years have been vaccinated.

“The fact that there are still nearly 5,000 children in this age group not fully immunised is a cause for concern.

“Ideally, children should be given a first dose of MMR at age 13 months and a second dose at the age of 31/2 years. However, it is not too late for older children, teenagers and adults up to the age of 25 to be vaccinated if they missed out on immunisation at the optimum time. Parents and others wishing to arrange vaccination should speak to their family doctor.”