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-22238823
The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
Swansea measles: Post-mortem on Gareth Colfer-Williams' body | |
(about 3 hours later) | |
A post-mortem examination on a man who had measles at the time of his death is expected to take place on Monday. | |
Gareth Colfer-Williams, 25, died on Thursday at his home in Swansea, the city at the centre of an epidemic of the disease. | |
Angela Colfer said her son went to see an out-of-hours GP on Wednesday evening with a rash "from head to foot" but not on his arms. | |
Meanwhile, 10 schools will offer 1,700 pupils vaccinations on Monday. | |
As the investigation into Mr Colfer-Williams's death at his flat in Port Tennant continues, Mrs Colfer said her son, who leaves a fiancee Cairo and young daughter Dakota, had recently been treated in Morriston hospital in Swansea for his asthma. | |
A few days after he was discharged he became unwell and developed a rash, she said. | |
Mrs Colfer said her son went to see an out-of-hours GP on Wednesday evening with a rash "from head to foot" but not on his arms. | |
But the following morning, Mr Colfer-Williams was found dead at his flat. | |
Mrs Colfer talked about how Cairo had told Dakota her father was dead. | |
"She just said that daddy had had to go away and had gone to heaven. Dakota started crying. | |
"She doesn't understand. She's only three but she's very intelligent. She's realised something is not right. | |
"It's been awful. We're all trying to be very upbeat with her," she said. | |
Mrs Colfer said her son, who weighed just 8st at 6ft 1in tall, suffered from asthma and was taking vitamins. | |
His sister Georgia Colfer said: "He was all red. He was covered. He looked like he'd been in the sun for days and that was just before he died. | |
"I saw him on the days before he died. I was shocked to see my brother so out of it." | |
His mother said: "He was very, very devoted to family. He did everything with his daughter Dakota." | |
Health officials confirmed he had been diagnosed with measles but further tests are taking place to determine the cause of death. | |
A health board spokeswoman said: "If he had been admitted to hospital with measles or suspected measles he would have been notified to Public Health Wales. | |
"They had no notification of him." | |
Dr Marion Lyons, director of health protection at Public Health Wales, said: "Whatever the cause of death in this case we should not be surprised if, as the outbreak grows, we start to see deaths in Wales." | |
With measles cases in the Swansea area exceeding 800, Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University Health Board welcomed the numbers of teenagers and young adults attending sessions at four hospitals. | With measles cases in the Swansea area exceeding 800, Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University Health Board welcomed the numbers of teenagers and young adults attending sessions at four hospitals. |
But last week the initial take-up of MMR jabs in schools was described by one health official as "disappointing". | But last week the initial take-up of MMR jabs in schools was described by one health official as "disappointing". |
Teams will target another 10 schools this week, starting with Gowerton Comprehensive School and Cwrt Sart Community Comprehensive on Monday. | Teams will target another 10 schools this week, starting with Gowerton Comprehensive School and Cwrt Sart Community Comprehensive on Monday. |
Dr Sara Hayes, the health board's director of public health, urged parents of unvaccinated pupils to take advantage of the school clinics. | Dr Sara Hayes, the health board's director of public health, urged parents of unvaccinated pupils to take advantage of the school clinics. |
She said: "Children and teenagers who are not protected with MMR have a very high risk of catching measles. | She said: "Children and teenagers who are not protected with MMR have a very high risk of catching measles. |
"MMR is a simple and safe jab which will protect them during this serious measles outbreak. I would urge parents of unvaccinated or under-vaccinated children to sign the consent form so our nurses can give them an MMR jab in school." | "MMR is a simple and safe jab which will protect them during this serious measles outbreak. I would urge parents of unvaccinated or under-vaccinated children to sign the consent form so our nurses can give them an MMR jab in school." |
Since the outbreak began in November, 77 people have needed hospital treatment for the illness. | Since the outbreak began in November, 77 people have needed hospital treatment for the illness. |
For the third weekend in a row vaccination clinics were held across south Wales in a bid to stem the epidemic. | For the third weekend in a row vaccination clinics were held across south Wales in a bid to stem the epidemic. |
As well as 1,825 people attending drop-in MMR clinics in Swansea, Bridgend and Neath Port Talbot, another 1,600 were vaccinated at clinics in Newport, Abergavenny and Caerphilly county. | As well as 1,825 people attending drop-in MMR clinics in Swansea, Bridgend and Neath Port Talbot, another 1,600 were vaccinated at clinics in Newport, Abergavenny and Caerphilly county. |