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| Measles cases in Swansea and Neath prompt 'frustration' | Measles cases in Swansea and Neath prompt 'frustration' |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A senior doctor has spoken of his frustration with a second crop of measles cases in south Wales just months after a large outbreak ended. | A senior doctor has spoken of his frustration with a second crop of measles cases in south Wales just months after a large outbreak ended. |
| Dr Jorg Hoffman from Public Health Wales spoke as a report into the eight-month outbreak is due to be released. | Dr Jorg Hoffman from Public Health Wales spoke as a report into the eight-month outbreak is due to be released. |
| From last November to June there were over 1,200 suspected cases of measles reported in south, west and mid Wales, and one man died as a result. | From last November to June there were over 1,200 suspected cases of measles reported in south, west and mid Wales, and one man died as a result. |
| A new outbreak at a Neath school last month has led to 36 suspected cases. | |
| Updated figures for the latest outbreak will be published later. | Updated figures for the latest outbreak will be published later. |
| Dr Hoffmann, consultant in communicable disease control at Public Health Wales (PHW), said the new outbreak was a result of the virus being re-imported into the Swansea area from outside Wales. | Dr Hoffmann, consultant in communicable disease control at Public Health Wales (PHW), said the new outbreak was a result of the virus being re-imported into the Swansea area from outside Wales. |
| He told BBC News that cases were being reported on a daily basis. | He told BBC News that cases were being reported on a daily basis. |
| "It's very frustrating. Numerous times we wrote to every GP, to schools, and said 'we're still seeing measles, you must check your child's vaccination status' and get them vaccinated if uncertain or if they know they have not had it," he said. | "It's very frustrating. Numerous times we wrote to every GP, to schools, and said 'we're still seeing measles, you must check your child's vaccination status' and get them vaccinated if uncertain or if they know they have not had it," he said. |
| Vaccinations with the MMR triple jab dipped sharply in the Swansea area following a now discredited report in the late 1990s wrongly linking the vaccine to cases of autism. | Vaccinations with the MMR triple jab dipped sharply in the Swansea area following a now discredited report in the late 1990s wrongly linking the vaccine to cases of autism. |
| Two doses | Two doses |
| Dr Hoffmann said there had been 35,000 extra vaccinations in the Abertawe Bro Morgannwg (ABM) University Health Board area during the last outbreak but added there were still children unprotected in the 10-18 age group who did not have their MMR jabs as toddlers. | Dr Hoffmann said there had been 35,000 extra vaccinations in the Abertawe Bro Morgannwg (ABM) University Health Board area during the last outbreak but added there were still children unprotected in the 10-18 age group who did not have their MMR jabs as toddlers. |
| In the ABM area, 95% of teenagers had had at least one dose of MMR, while 90% had had both. | In the ABM area, 95% of teenagers had had at least one dose of MMR, while 90% had had both. |
| Dr Hoffman stressed that of those who had only had one dose, 10% would remain vulnerable to measles. | Dr Hoffman stressed that of those who had only had one dose, 10% would remain vulnerable to measles. |
| He said people who had had the first jab during the outbreak had sometimes not come back for the second. | He said people who had had the first jab during the outbreak had sometimes not come back for the second. |
| "I think it's human nature that once the threat is gone they move on," he added. | "I think it's human nature that once the threat is gone they move on," he added. |
| As yet, scientists have not been able to establish where the first case of the current outbreak came from. Last year's outbreak was traced to a holiday camp in England. | As yet, scientists have not been able to establish where the first case of the current outbreak came from. Last year's outbreak was traced to a holiday camp in England. |
| "The virus is endemic in England, Europe and other parts of the world and some people will bring it back from there," said Dr Hoffman. | "The virus is endemic in England, Europe and other parts of the world and some people will bring it back from there," said Dr Hoffman. |
| He explained that with 30,000 10-18-year-olds across Wales still unprotected, there was potential for the number of measles cases to rise, although he added he did not think it was as likely to grow to the extent of the previous outbreak. | He explained that with 30,000 10-18-year-olds across Wales still unprotected, there was potential for the number of measles cases to rise, although he added he did not think it was as likely to grow to the extent of the previous outbreak. |
| "We're trying very, very hard to contain this. We do not want a repeat." | "We're trying very, very hard to contain this. We do not want a repeat." |
| He said parents of those affected had been advised to stay away from children's centres and sporting events while their children were infectious. | He said parents of those affected had been advised to stay away from children's centres and sporting events while their children were infectious. |
| "The majority of people are very good at complying, but a proportion are not," he said. | "The majority of people are very good at complying, but a proportion are not," he said. |
| 'Heads in the sand' | 'Heads in the sand' |
| Dr Ian Millington, a Swansea GP for 40 years and secretary of the local medical committee representing doctors to the health board, said the new outbreak was "very worrying". | Dr Ian Millington, a Swansea GP for 40 years and secretary of the local medical committee representing doctors to the health board, said the new outbreak was "very worrying". |
| He was concerned that many people were still resistant to the vaccination message. | He was concerned that many people were still resistant to the vaccination message. |
| "I think some is complacency, some ignorance and some is 'it isn't in my face'," he said. | "I think some is complacency, some ignorance and some is 'it isn't in my face'," he said. |
| "We're getting into a hard core of people who don't believe in vaccinations or are burying their heads in the sand." | "We're getting into a hard core of people who don't believe in vaccinations or are burying their heads in the sand." |
| Dr Millington thought appealing directly to the teenagers who had missed out on vaccinations because of their parents' view could work. | Dr Millington thought appealing directly to the teenagers who had missed out on vaccinations because of their parents' view could work. |
| "This is another way forward in the hope that they will see they are exposed to a high risk of a nasty disease." | "This is another way forward in the hope that they will see they are exposed to a high risk of a nasty disease." |