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Measles in Wales: Warning of epidemic spread Measles in Wales: Over 2,000 given MMR jabs at clinics
(about 3 hours later)
Fears have been raised that the measles epidemic could spread from Swansea amid concerns that over 40,000 children are still unvaccinated in Wales. Well over 2,000 people have been vaccinated at clinics set up to tackle the Swansea measles epidemic as fears were raised it could spread.
The number of cases in the outbreak has risen to 693 and more hospitals are offering free MMR jabs in south Wales in a bid to tackle the problem. Queues of people turned up early at many of the special drop-in sessions for free MMR jabs.
Dr Meirion Evans of Public Health Wales (PHW) said that numbers could "easily double" and no part of the UK was safe. The number of cases in the outbreak has risen to 693 but Dr Meirion Evans of Public Health Wales (PHW) said that numbers could "easily double".
More than 1,300 people have had jabs at drop-in clinics in south Wales today. He said 40,000 children in Wales remain unvaccinated.
Dr Evans said that the epidemic centred around Swansea is a result of a 10 to 15 year "legacy" of concern about the MMR (measles mumps rubella) jab.Dr Evans said that the epidemic centred around Swansea is a result of a 10 to 15 year "legacy" of concern about the MMR (measles mumps rubella) jab.
It followed a now discredited report by Dr Andrew Wakefield in the late 1990s which linked the vaccine with autism.It followed a now discredited report by Dr Andrew Wakefield in the late 1990s which linked the vaccine with autism.
Dr Evans, a consultant epidemiologist, told BBC Radio Wales that as a result, there are many parts of the UK which do not have vaccination rates high enough to stop the spread of measles.Dr Evans, a consultant epidemiologist, told BBC Radio Wales that as a result, there are many parts of the UK which do not have vaccination rates high enough to stop the spread of measles.
"Across Wales as a whole there are many, many children who have not had their MMR - we estimate over 40,000 children across Wales - so there is a real possibility that it could seed from Swansea to other parts of Wales and potentially take a grip there," he said."Across Wales as a whole there are many, many children who have not had their MMR - we estimate over 40,000 children across Wales - so there is a real possibility that it could seed from Swansea to other parts of Wales and potentially take a grip there," he said.
"Nowhere in Wales is safe from measles and I think that is true of the UK as a whole.""Nowhere in Wales is safe from measles and I think that is true of the UK as a whole."
He warned that the outbreak could last until the summer holidays as the disease can spread rapidly in schools.He warned that the outbreak could last until the summer holidays as the disease can spread rapidly in schools.
'Significant spread''Significant spread'
Meanwhile, drop-in clinics will be held later for the first time in Cardiff, the Vale of Glamorgan, Newport and Ystrad Mynach near Caerphilly as a precaution. On Saturday, special clinics were again put on at hospitals across south Wales to try to vaccinate as many people as possible.
Dr Tom Porter, a consultant with Cardiff and Vale University Health Board, said that while there was not yet an outbreak in the area, doctors were seeing cases being imported from elsewhere in Wales. More than 1,700 people had the MMR jab at the drop-in sessions at Morriston and Singleton Hospitals in Swansea, along with Neath Port Talbot Hospital and the Princess of Wales Hospital in Bridgend.
Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University Health Board said many clinics opened earlier than the intended 10:00 BST start time as people began queuing as early as 08:30 BST.
A similar number attended clinics at the same hospitals last weekend, and more drop-in sessions will be held next weekend, the health board added.
In south east Wales, 400 people received the vaccine in Ystrad Mynach near Caerphilly and 200 people had the jabs in Newport.
Two clinics have also been held in Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan but attendance figures from these sessions are yet to be released.
'Significant spread'
Dr Tom Porter, a consultant with Cardiff and Vale University Health Board, said that while there was not yet an outbreak in the area, doctors were seeing cases imported from elsewhere in Wales.
"It's probably a matter of sooner or later seeing significant spread within Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan," he added."It's probably a matter of sooner or later seeing significant spread within Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan," he added.
Warning of measles epidemic spread
"We know at the moment not enough people are protected from measles which means probably we will get an outbreak and we want to make sure enough people are protected.""We know at the moment not enough people are protected from measles which means probably we will get an outbreak and we want to make sure enough people are protected."
He added that an estimated 13,000 children under 19 have not had both recommended MMR jabs in the health board area. He added that an estimated 13,000 children under 19 have not had both recommended MMR jabs in the Cardiff and Vale area.
More than 1,700 were vaccinated at hospital drop-in clinics in Swansea, Neath Port Talbot and Bridgend last Saturday, with another 900 vaccinated in the Swansea area last week. Cwm Taf Health Board in the south Wales valleys has not held any drop-in sessions but has advised people to contact their GP for a vaccination.
Abertawe Bro Morgannwg health board will hold more sessions from 10:00-16:00 BST on Saturday at Swansea's Morriston and Singleton hospitals along with Neath Port Talbot Hospital and the Princess of Wales Hospital in Bridgend.
Shortly after 13:00 BST the board said more than 1,000 people had been vaccinated so far.
Some GP surgeries are also laying on special vaccination sessions next week, while children will be given the jab at schools in the area as they return to lessons on Monday after the Easter break.
Cardiff and Vale University Health Board is holding sessions at Cardiff Royal Infirmary and at University Hospital Llandough, also from 10:00-16:00 BST.
Aneurin Bevan Health Board is running sessions from 11:00-15:00 BST at Bellevue Surgery in Newport and Ysbyty Ystrad Fawr in Ystrad Mynach.
It reported that at least 300 vaccinations had been given at its two locations by 13:00 BST.
No appointments are needed for any of the clinics which are for children and teenagers who have not had two MMR jabs.
Cwm Taf Health Board in the south Wales valleys is not holding drop-in sessions but is advising people to contact their GP for a vaccination.
PHW has warned that despite previous immunisations the outbreak, which began in November, has not been brought under control.PHW has warned that despite previous immunisations the outbreak, which began in November, has not been brought under control.
Although the epidemic is based in Swansea, cases continue to be reported across Wales. Officials have raised concerns about the number of cases in Powys.Although the epidemic is based in Swansea, cases continue to be reported across Wales. Officials have raised concerns about the number of cases in Powys.
Measles is caused by a virus spread in droplets and is easy to catch by those who have not been vaccinated.Measles is caused by a virus spread in droplets and is easy to catch by those who have not been vaccinated.
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.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.
The death rate is around one in every 1,000 infected in developed countries.The death rate is around one in every 1,000 infected in developed countries.