This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-22069552

The article has changed 9 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 7 Version 8
Measles: No end to Swansea epidemic as cases reach 620 Measles: 'No end' to Swansea epidemic as cases reach 620
(about 1 hour later)
The number of cases in the Swansea measles epidemic has reached 620, with health officials warning there is no sign of the outbreak coming to an end.The number of cases in the Swansea measles epidemic has reached 620, with health officials warning there is no sign of the outbreak coming to an end.
The latest figure is an increase of 32 on Friday, with around 15 to 20 new cases being confirmed every day. The figure released on Tuesday is an increase of 32 on Friday, with up to 20 new cases being confirmed every day.
Public Health Wales said there had been an excellent response to drop-in vaccination clinics last weekend. Public Health Wales said there had been an excellent response to drop-in vaccination clinics at a number of hospitals last weekend.
But it warned 6,000 children have still not received the jab. But it warned that 6,000 children in Swansea have still not had the jab.
Parents across Swansea, Neath Port Talbot and Bridgend are being urged to get their children vaccinated.Parents across Swansea, Neath Port Talbot and Bridgend are being urged to get their children vaccinated.
The figure in the Swansea area is now just two short of the outbreak in the north west of England in the year to February 2013. Most of these cases were on Merseyside, in Greater Manchester and west Lancashire. The total number of cases in the Swansea area is now just two short of the total in the outbreak in the north west of England in the year to February 2013. Most of these cases were on Merseyside, in Greater Manchester and west Lancashire.
About 1,700 people were vaccinated at special hospital drop-in clinics at the weekend, which health officials called an "excellent" response.About 1,700 people were vaccinated at special hospital drop-in clinics at the weekend, which health officials called an "excellent" response.
But they say at least 6,000 children are still unvaccinated in the county of Swansea.But they say at least 6,000 children are still unvaccinated in the county of Swansea.
More hospital drop-in clinics will be held in Swansea, Neath Port Talbot and Bridgend on Saturday, targeting children and adolescents who did not have their scheduled MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) jabs as babies and toddlers.
Some GP surgeries are also laying on special vaccination sessions, while children will be given the jab at schools in the outbreak area when they return next week after the Easter break.
'Not judging''Not judging'
Dr Marion Lyons, director of health protection for Public Health Wales said: "We cannot be confident that the outbreak will not continue to grow with so many children still at risk from this very contagious and potentially fatal disease." Dr Marion Lyons, director of health protection for Public Health Wales, said she believed the outbreak could go on for weeks.
"We cannot be confident that the outbreak will not continue to grow with so many children still at risk from this very contagious and potentially fatal disease," she said.
Some 60 people have been hospitalised since the start of the outbreak.Some 60 people have been hospitalised since the start of the outbreak.
Sara Hayes, Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University Health Board's director of public health, said: "Many children who missed the MMR jabs when they were little will be sitting exams once they go back to school.Sara Hayes, Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University Health Board's director of public health, said: "Many children who missed the MMR jabs when they were little will be sitting exams once they go back to school.
"We are not in any way judgmental about why their children may have missed the MMR in the past. The important thing is that they get the jab now," she added."We are not in any way judgmental about why their children may have missed the MMR in the past. The important thing is that they get the jab now," she added.
Before the introduction of the MMR in 1988, about half a million children caught measles and about 100 died from it each year in the UK. Concerns over the safety of the MMR jab were raised in the late 1990s when a surgeon published a since discredited paper in The Lancet suggesting MMR was linked to an increased risk of autism.
Concerns over the jab's safety were raised in the late 1990s when a surgeon published a since discredited paper in The Lancet suggesting MMR was linked to an increased risk of autism.
That paper, and subsequent media coverage, led to immunisation rates plummeting.That paper, and subsequent media coverage, led to immunisation rates plummeting.
Although the epidemic is based in Swansea, cases continue to be reported across Wales. A Swansea newspaper which joined the anti-MMR campaign at that time has defended itself against claims that it was to blame for the current outbreak.
Most are in the Abertawe Bro Morgannwg health region, which also includes Neath, Port Talbot and Bridgend. Jonathan Roberts, editor of the South Wales Evening Post, said the campaign had been hard-hitting but reflected parents' concerns at the time about the safety of the vaccine.
There are also cases in Powys and in the Hywel Dda Health Board area, which covers Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire. "It is clear that there were genuine concerns in the mid-90s about MMR and the Post gave them full and responsible coverage," he said in Ean article for the paper.
Officials have 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 even dies.
Typical symptoms of measles include fever, cough, conjunctivitis and a rash. Complications are quite common even in healthy people, and about 20% of reported measles cases experience one or more complication.
These can include ear infections, vomiting and diarrhoea, pneumonia, meningitis and serious eye disorders.
Meanwhile, a Swansea newspaper has defended itself against claims that its 1990s anti-MMR campaign was to blame.
Jonathan Roberts, editor of the South Wales Evening Post, said the campaign was hard-hitting but reflected parents' concerns at the time about the safety of the vaccine.
It is the first time the newspaper has responded to claims that its campaign could have been responsible for a lower uptake of the MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccine in the Swansea area.
"It is clear that there were genuine concerns in the mid-90s about MMR and the Post gave them full and responsible coverage," he said in the article on the Evening Post website.
He added that "with the benefit of hindsight" it is easy to be critical.
"To judge it honestly and fairly, one has to consider the fear which existed at the time, the fact that medical experts were publicly expressing concerns about the vaccine and the duty of this paper to reflect public opinion.""To judge it honestly and fairly, one has to consider the fear which existed at the time, the fact that medical experts were publicly expressing concerns about the vaccine and the duty of this paper to reflect public opinion."
Mr Roberts hosted a webchat on Tuesday on the paper's website.Mr Roberts hosted a webchat on Tuesday on the paper's website.
He was asked to account for the fact that MMR vaccination rates dropped by about 2% across Wales but by 13% in Swansea.He was asked to account for the fact that MMR vaccination rates dropped by about 2% across Wales but by 13% in Swansea.
"When looking back at the content contained within the stories we ran, the message was balanced," he said in response."When looking back at the content contained within the stories we ran, the message was balanced," he said in response.
"We had a duty to reflect the concerns of our community, we also had a duty to reflect the official view of health professionals. And this we did.""We had a duty to reflect the concerns of our community, we also had a duty to reflect the official view of health professionals. And this we did."
He said he would be looking into republishing online archive stories from the time.He said he would be looking into republishing online archive stories from the time.
'Serious complications'
Although the epidemic is based in Swansea, cases continue to be reported across Wales.
Most are in the Abertawe Bro Morgannwg health region, which also includes Neath, Port Talbot and Bridgend.
There are also cases in Powys and in the Hywel Dda Health Board area, which covers Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire.
Officials have 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 even dies.
Typical symptoms of measles include fever, cough, conjunctivitis and a rash. Complications are quite common even in healthy people, and about 20% of reported measles cases experience one or more complication.
These can include ear infections, vomiting and diarrhoea, pneumonia, meningitis and serious eye disorders.