This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/london/7819427.stm

The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
London sees large rise in measles London sees large rise in measles
(about 1 hour later)
A large rise in measles has been recorded in London, with 721 confirmed cases in 2008 compared with 424 in 2007, health officials say.A large rise in measles has been recorded in London, with 721 confirmed cases in 2008 compared with 424 in 2007, health officials say.
The number of suspected cases also rose in London, from 1,216 in 2007 to 1,697. The Health Protection Agency (HPA) blamed the rise on the lower uptake of the combined MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccine over the past decade.
The Health Protection Agency blamed the rise on the lower uptake of the combined MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccine over the past decade. It recorded a total of 1,217 cases of measles in England and Wales last year.
Seven out of 10 children in London have been vaccinated for measles, below England's average rate of 83%.Seven out of 10 children in London have been vaccinated for measles, below England's average rate of 83%.
Last year the annual number of cases of measles topped 1,000 for the first time in more than a decade, standing at 1,049 cases by October. The number of suspected cases of measles also rose in London, from 1,216 in 2007 to 1,697 last year.
Across England and Wales, the number of cases in November 2008 was the same as was seen in the whole of 1996.
'Epidemic risk''Epidemic risk'
This exceeded the 990 confirmed cases of measles in England and Wales in 2007. The HPA said the decade of relatively low vaccination coverage was triggered by now-debunked claims of a link between the MMR jab and autism.
The agency warned of a "real risk" of a measles epidemic. Dr Mary Ramsay, an immunisation expert at the agency, said: "The HPA is concerned that we may see measles epidemics take hold.
It said the decade of relatively low vaccination coverage was triggered by now-debunked claims of a link between the MMR jab and autism. "We shouldn't forget that the children who weren't vaccinated many years ago are at real risk."
Although most children recover fully from measles, it can be a serious illness.Although most children recover fully from measles, it can be a serious illness.
One in 10 cases requires hospital treatment and it can lead to pneumonia, brain damage and even death.One in 10 cases requires hospital treatment and it can lead to pneumonia, brain damage and even death.
There were 990 confirmed cases of measles in England and Wales in 2007.