Measles death fear grows as parents fail to act

An urgent appeal for parents to ensure their children have the vital MMR jab was renewed yesterday as the number of confirmed cases hit 541.

Concerned health experts said 109 cases had been reported in the last week and warned again the contagious virus is a potential killer.

The measles epidemic centred on Swansea, south Wales, has underlined the need for children to have vital protection.

However, concern is growing that pleas for thousands of unvaccinated children to get the MMR jab are not being heard.

Public Health Wales (PHW) warned before Easter that measles was spreading “at an alarming rate.” It is concerned that take-up of the vital vaccination is far too slow, putting lives at risk at the height of an epidemic.

PHW health protection director Dr Marion Lyons has repeatedly warned that measles can leave unprotected children brain-damaged or dead.

She said: “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.

“We are starting to see parents bringing unprotected children to get vaccinated, showing that they’re taking the outbreak seriously and have confidence in the jab as the best way of protecting their children.”

But she added: “Unfortunately some parents are continuing to put their children at unnecessary risk of catching this potentially serious disease. They need to get their children vaccinated without delay.

“A simple and safe jab from your GP will protect your child’s health, could save their life, and will help protect other children too. It is the only precaution you can take at this worrying time, and we have plenty of stocks of the jab, so I would urge parents to make arrangements with their GP now.

“The MMR jab is recommended by the World Health Organisation, UK Department of Health and Public Health Wales as the most effective and safe way to protect children against measles. The alarming numbers of cases of measles and continuing spread of the disease in Wales illustrates how vital it is for parents to get their children vaccinated.