Urgent measles warning as outbreak of deadly Victorian declared in Wales after 7 children fall ill
A MEASLES outbreak has been declared in Wales.
Seven children across Cardiff have been confirmed as having the disease over the past six weeks.
The outbreak prompted Public Health Wales (PHW) to urge parents to ensure their children are up to date with the MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) jabs.
Sion Lingard, consultant in health protection for PHW said all seven cases have been linked.
He added: “While there is currently no evidence of wider community transmission, measles is an extremely contagious infection and we are concerned that people who are not protected by vaccination could be at risk.”
He said further cases were expected in the following weeks and urged adults who had never had measles or the MMR vaccine and are in close contact with children to speak to their GP about vaccination.
It comes as MMR vaccination uptake is at a 12-year low, separate figures show, and cases of the bug surge globally.
Measles is a highly infectious disease, spreading quickly from person to person, especially in schools.
It is so contagious that a child who has it will infection up to nine out of 10 children around them, if not protected by a jab.
PHW said it was never too late to catch up on vaccines.
The first dose of MMR is usually given to babies at 12 months and the second just after three years of age.
Anyone can catch up on missed injections for free at any age.
What the are the symptoms of measles?
MEASLES usually begins with cold-like symptoms.
These include:
- a high temperature
- a runny or blocked nose
- sneezing
- a cough
- red, sore, watery eyes
Small white spots may appear inside the cheeks and on the back of the lips a few days later. These spots usually last a few days.
A blotchy red rash usually appears a few days after the cold-like symptoms. It starts on the face and behind the ears before moving to the rest of the body.
It usually clears in seven to 10 days but can lead to other serious complications.
Severe complications can occur, including miscarriage in pregnant women, brain swelling and the risk of death from pneumonia.
It’s very unlikely to be measles if you’ve had both doses of the MMR vaccine or you’ve had measles before.
But it you think you or your child could have measles ask for an urgent GP appointment or get help from NHS 111.
Source: NHS