UK: Emergency measles steps ordered

May 19, 2008

Emergency measles steps ordered

Emergency measures are being implemented to halt a measles outbreak.

Health chiefs in London have ordered NHS trusts to offer MMR jabs in quick

succession amid a surge in measles.

There have been over 200 cases in south east London in the first five months

of this year. It comes after a record 1,000 were recorded nationally in 2007

The Health Protection Agency said it hoped that offering the two jabs within

months instead of two years apart would help stem the rise.

Similar steps were taken when there was a high concentration of cases in

north London last year.

It is not known exactly what has caused the rise in cases, but take-up of

MMR has struggled to recover from being linked to autism in the 1990s.

At least 95% of children need to have the triple-jab to create herd immunity

to stop the disease spreading, but London in particular has struggled to

reach that.

About three quarters of children across London have had the first jab which

is given to babies at 13 months of age.

The second jab, offered to capture the one in 10 who do not get immunity by

the first vaccination, is normally given before children start school.

But the Health Protection Agency has told the six trusts in south east

London - ham, Lambeth, Southwark, Bexley, Bromley and Greenwich - to

give the second jab one to three months after the first.

Concern

HPA disease control expert McInnes said: " The increase in measles

cases is of concern and we know that large numbers of children are still not

fully protected.

" In south east London we are encouraging parents to give the second MMR

between one to three months after the first dose to protect their children.

" Children's immune systems have a huge capacity and overloading them with

the vaccination is not an issue.

" Our main focus is to remind people that they need two doses of the MMR

vaccine to be fully protected. "

Health officials in ham, which has had some of the highest rates of

infection, is running special clinics to get every child under five

immunised.

Parents of children between five and 16 who have not had the second jab are

also being urged to go to their GP to get the jab.

A ham PCT spokesman warned: " The disease is still spreading,

particularly among school-age children. "

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