Measles: Row Erupts As Cases Increase

The Government has hit back at claims it is to blame for the latest measles outbreak - now the largest the UK has seen for more than a decade.

Andrew Wakefield, the former doctor who caused the MMR scare 15 years ago by linking the vaccine with autism, said ministers were putting the importance of their  vaccination programme above the welfare of children.

He told The Independent that the "British Government is entirely culpable" for the outbreak and accused ministers of "putting price before children's health".

But a Department for Health spokesman refuted his claims, insisting that "Dr Andrew Wakefield's claims are completely incorrect".

"Immunisation advice from the Department has always kept the interests of patients paramount. Measles is a highly infectious and harmful disease," he added.

"If your child has not had two doses of MMR, whatever their age, we urge you to contact your GP surgery and make an appointment."

It comes as more emergency measles clinics are being opened this weekend after the number of cases across the UK has risen to more than 970.

The outbreak is the biggest the UK has seen for more than 10 years, exceeding the 622 cases recorded in Merseyside in 2012.

Health officials have confirmed 693 cases in South Wales, 210 in the North East and 75 in Gloucestershire.

Disgraced doctor Andrew Wakefield blames the Government for the outbreak

They have warned the outbreak is unlikely to peak for "two to three" weeks because of the incubation period for the disease, and fear it could spread further as children go back to school following the Easter break.

The escalation in cases has prompted health bosses to renew their plea for unvaccinated people to get their MMR jabs immediately.

Marion Lyons, director health protection at Public Health Wales, said at least 6,000 children remain unvaccinated in the south west Wales county.

"With measles cases at almost 700, with 73 of those reported in the last two days alone, we remain extremely concerned that this outbreak is showing no signs of going away," she said.

"We are delighted to see parents starting to arrange vaccination for their children but the numbers simply aren't high enough to bring the outbreak under control when 6,000 children remain at risk from measles in the Swansea area alone."

Before the introduction of the MMR jab in 1988, about half a million children caught measles each year in the UK. Approximately 100 of those died.

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 complications. These can include ear infections, vomiting and diarrhoea, pneumonia, meningitis and serious eye disorders.

The latest round of emergency vaccination sessions will be held between 10am and 4pm at Swansea's Morriston and Singleton hospitals, as well as The Princess of Wales Hospital, Bridgend and the Neath Port Talbot Hospital.

More information about the sessions can be found at Public Health Wales.

Anda sedang membaca artikel tentang

Measles: Row Erupts As Cases Increase

Dengan url

http://hajimabruroh.blogspot.com/2013/04/measles-row-erupts-as-cases-increase.html

Anda boleh menyebar luaskannya atau mengcopy paste-nya

Measles: Row Erupts As Cases Increase

namun jangan lupa untuk meletakkan link

Measles: Row Erupts As Cases Increase

sebagai sumbernya