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	va1-sg19016.securesites.net

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Parents have been urged to give their children the MMR [measles, 

mumps, rubella] vaccine as it was revealed Britain is in the middle 

of the worst measles outbreak for 20 years.  The unprecedented 

warning from the Health Protection Agency [HPA] came as the number of 

children suffering from the disease trebled over the last 11 

weeks.  Experts fear even more will be infected as the autumn school 

term begins.



This is the worst outbreak since the controversial MMR vaccine was 

introduced in 1988.  Take-up of the triple jab -- which also protects 

against mumps and rubella -- plummeted to 80 per cent after Dr Andrew 

Wakefield claimed it was linked to autism and bowel 

problems.  Leading scientists have since debunked Dr Wakefield's 

claims and rates of uptake are creeping back to recommended levels -- 

except in London, where a quarter of children are still not vaccinated.



Experts say the scare is directly responsible for the recent surge in 

measles cases.  Up until [10 Jun 2007], 136 [cases] had been 

confirmed by the HPA. But as of [24 Aug 2007] -- just over 11 weeks 

later -- this had more than trebled to 480.  The increase in 

infection rates has led the Health Protection Agency to issue a 

nationwide vaccination plea for the 1st time. Doctors have urged 

parents to make sure children receive the jab before returning to school.



"Over the summer holidays we have seen more cases of measles being 

reported than we would normally expect. This means it is crucial that 

children are fully immunised with 2 doses of MMR before they return 

to school.  "Measles is a highly infectious and dangerous illness and 

as there is increased close contact in schools, it can spread easily. 

Now is the time parents will be buying their children a new school 

uniform to prepare for the school year ahead, but being prepared to 

avoid infection is even more important.  "Parents should think about 

adding the MMR vaccine to their back to school 'to do' list."



The combined vaccine consists of 2 jabs -- one given at 13 months and 

a "booster" between the ages of 3 and 5 [years].  Both injections are 

necessary as up to 10 per cent of children are still not protected 

against measles after the 1st one.



In 1998, Dr Wakefield published research in the Lancet linking the 

MMR jab to autism. His claims caused a furor, with some parents 

paying privately for their children to have single vaccines instead 

of the combined jab. Others decided not to have their children 

vaccinated at all. Prime Minister Tony Blair refused to say whether 

he had given his son Leo the combined jab.



Since the scare, take-up of the jab has gradually recovered and now 

88 per cent of parents are having their children vaccinated.  This is 

still well below the recommended level of 95 per cent.  Another 

concern is that the take-up of the booster is much lower than that of 

the 1st jab, at only 74 per cent. The Health Protection Agency is 

worried that parents are simply forgetting about it.



remain high. However, it is also important to remember that children 

should complete their full course."



The rise in the number of measles cases over the summer has been 

particularly pronounced in areas where vaccination rates are 

traditionally low, such as traveller sites.  Last year a 13-year-old 

boy, from a travelling community in the North-West, became the 1st 

person to die of measles since 1992.  But many of the cases are among 

unvaccinated schoolchildren.  There have also been a number of small 

outbreaks among holidaymakers returning from abroad.



Dr Mike Fitzpatrick, a GP in Hackney, east London, said 10 children 

with measles were hospitalised in his borough since May [2007].  "We 

are seeing the biggest outbreak for 20 years and there is no doubt it 

is [due] to the low uptake of MMR," he said. "The only surprise is 

that it hasn't happened earlier.  The worry now is that with the 

return to school this will really take off." He added, "There have 

been a few outbreaks in Europe recently and what they show is that if 

you get up to 1000 or 2000 cases you're going to get one or 2 deaths. 

That must be the fear with this outbreak. It also raises the fear 

that we will return to outbreaks happening every year -- something 

that hasn't happened for 20 years."



Measles is most common among children under 4 [years], but can strike 

in older children and adults too. It can have potentially fatal 

complications including pneumonia, hepatitis, and swelling of the 

brain.  The disease is so dangerous because sufferers are infectious 

for 3 days before their symptoms become apparent.



Anti-MMR campaigners said yesterday [30 Aug 2007] that the current 

surge in cases would not have happened if a single measles jab was 

available on the NHS [National Health Service].  Jackie Fletcher, of 

campaign group Jabs, said, "Health ministers should be asking 

themselves why so many parents are still rejecting the MMR vaccine. 

If the Department of Health really has the best interests of children 

at heart they should reinstate the single vaccine at every NHS 

surgery across the UK."



--



[According to the most recent data available on the HPA website 

there were 736 cases of measles reported in the UK during 2006, the 

highest number of reported cases since 1996 (see table below for 

annual reported cases of measles in the UK).



If the newswire above is correct, there are reports of 480 cases of 

measles during the period January through 24 August 2007 and concerns 

that this year's total reported cases will surpass that seen in 2006.



The impact of decreasing coverages with measles-containing vaccines 

due to high publicity on the part of the anti-vaccine lobby have now 

been clearly seen in the UK where significant transmission of the 

measles virus is occurring. One can only hope that the present 

publicity surrounding the upsurge in measles cases will help 

counteract the anti-vaccine lobbies and result in increased uptake of 

the vaccine.



Annual reported cases of measles - UK 1996 through 2006.

- Mod.MPP]



Measles - Norway ex UK (England) 20070525.1673

Measles - UK (Scotland) 20070111.0131

Measles, imported - USA ex Japan 20070608.1861

Measles - Norway ex UK (England) (02) 20070622.2020

Measles - Norway ex UK (England) 20070525.1673

Measles - Russia (Primorsky) ex China 20070615.1955

Measles, adult, adoption linked - USA ex China 20070228.0715

........................................mpp/mj/jw