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Measles outbreak: number of cases rises 121 in a week Measles outbreak: number of cases rises 121 in a week
(5 months later)
The measles outbreak centred on Swansea shows no sign of ending, with the number of cases rising to 886 – up 78 in five days and 121 in a week.The measles outbreak centred on Swansea shows no sign of ending, with the number of cases rising to 886 – up 78 in five days and 121 in a week.
Eighty people have now needed hospital treatment since the outbreak began in November and more than 10,000 people across Wales have been given a triple jab against measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) in the last seven days as health authorities continue efforts to bring the epidemic under control. Public Health Wales (PHW) says there is still an "urgent need" for more children to be vaccinated.Eighty people have now needed hospital treatment since the outbreak began in November and more than 10,000 people across Wales have been given a triple jab against measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) in the last seven days as health authorities continue efforts to bring the epidemic under control. Public Health Wales (PHW) says there is still an "urgent need" for more children to be vaccinated.
The Swansea coroner has still to determine whether a 25-year-old man, named locally as Gareth Colfer-Williams, died last week because of measles. Tests by PHW have already shown he had the disease when he died.The Swansea coroner has still to determine whether a 25-year-old man, named locally as Gareth Colfer-Williams, died last week because of measles. Tests by PHW have already shown he had the disease when he died.
The outbreak has spread beyond Swansea with high numbers reported in the Neath Port Talbot area and north Powys. Health officials in Shropshire across the border in England are monitoring a rise in measles cases there.The outbreak has spread beyond Swansea with high numbers reported in the Neath Port Talbot area and north Powys. Health officials in Shropshire across the border in England are monitoring a rise in measles cases there.
Marion Lyons, director of health protection for PHW, said: "The response from parents has been excellent, particularly in the last four weeks, and we are seeing people turn up in their thousands to drop-in clinics and GP surgeries for non-routine MMR vaccination.Marion Lyons, director of health protection for PHW, said: "The response from parents has been excellent, particularly in the last four weeks, and we are seeing people turn up in their thousands to drop-in clinics and GP surgeries for non-routine MMR vaccination.
"There is still an urgent need to vaccinate more children if we are going to end this outbreak. The hardest-hit age group is those between 10 and 18, so we would remind those young people and their parents that now is the time to be vaccinated," said Lyons."There is still an urgent need to vaccinate more children if we are going to end this outbreak. The hardest-hit age group is those between 10 and 18, so we would remind those young people and their parents that now is the time to be vaccinated," said Lyons.
"We have seen in the last few days that measles can be potentially fatal and no one should be complacent about the severity of measles. It can kill but can be prevented by a simple, safe vaccine.""We have seen in the last few days that measles can be potentially fatal and no one should be complacent about the severity of measles. It can kill but can be prevented by a simple, safe vaccine."
All health boards in Wales are arranging vaccination sessions in schools as they try to vaccinate as many children and teenagers as possible before the summer holidays.All health boards in Wales are arranging vaccination sessions in schools as they try to vaccinate as many children and teenagers as possible before the summer holidays.
Authorities say it is inevitable that some children vaccinated in the last two weeks will already be incubating measles and vaccination will not prevent them from becoming unwell. But they also say their illness is likely to be milder than if they had not received the vaccine.Authorities say it is inevitable that some children vaccinated in the last two weeks will already be incubating measles and vaccination will not prevent them from becoming unwell. But they also say their illness is likely to be milder than if they had not received the vaccine.
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