Tag Archives: mumps

Rubella risk in Wales

Leave a reply

Health officials have warned that action is needed to prevent a rubella outbreak, which can be particularly dangerous to pregnant women.

Public Health Wales and national deaf-blind charity Sense say about 38,000 young people in Wales have not had the measles mumps and rubella (MMR) jab.

They welcomed the efforts to increase vaccinations in light of the measles epidemic centred on Swansea.

But they said more people need to have the recommended two doses.

The measles epidemic has seen 1,094 cases reported in the Swansea area, with 1,257 across Wales.

If rubella is contracted by a pregnant woman, it can cause babies to be born with combined sight and hearing loss along with life-threatening heart conditions and a long list of other health issues.

Joff McGill, of Sense, said: “We can’t sit around and wait for rubella outbreaks to follow measles – now is the time to catch up and stay ahead of rubella.

“We must act now to protect pregnant women and their unborn babies. Women who are unsure of their vaccination history and are thinking about becoming pregnant should contact their GP for advice.”

Mr McGill added: “The large group of 38,000 unvaccinated young people in Wales, along with evidence of increasing susceptibility to rubella in younger woman and in women from ethnic minorities, means immunisation can no longer be a childhood issue.

rubella

He said the single measles vaccination did not protect against rubella and a programme of single vaccines would mean more people unprotected for longer.


“MMR is the only effective way to prevent the spread of the disease and the associated risks.”

Dr Marion Lyons, director of health protection for Public Health Wales, added: “We have been warning for some weeks now of the risk of measles to those not vaccinated with two doses of MMR, but it should be remembered that the vaccine also protects against mumps and rubella.

“At present we have not seen cases of rubella in Wales for several years, but the disease is not eradicated and there is every possibility of rubella outbreaks in the future.

“It would be a huge shame to see this disease re-emerging in Wales and affecting pregnant women and their babies.”

Measles – What you should know

Leave a reply

As the UK is hit by a measles outbreak affecting people from babies to adults, we look at the essential info about the disease.

What is measles?

It is one of the world’s most infectious diseases and can lead to extremely serious complications that in some cases can be fatal.

How do you catch it?

It spreads when infected people cough and sneeze – it is in the tiny droplets.

People become infected by breathing in the droplets or by touching a surface that has been contaminated and then rubbing on their noses or mouths.

Who is likely to catch it?

Measles is most common in children aged between one and four, but people who have not had it and those who have not been vaccinated are at risk.

The measles virus

The measles virus

What are the symptoms?

The first signs are cold-like symptoms – sensitivity to light, red eyes, fever and white spots in the mouth and throat.

After a few days a red-brown spotty rash will appear, usually behind the neck, and spread across the body. There may be diarrhoea, vomiting and abdominal pain.




What are the complications?

Common complications include eye ­infections and laryngitis. But it can also lead to meningitis and pneumonia and some people can die. Measles is still one of the biggest killers of children, with 430 deaths around the world every day.

Is there a treatment

No, there is no specific treatment, but the body’s immune system should be able to fight off the illness within a couple of weeks. However, in severe cases hospital admission may be required.

How can I prevent it?

The most effective way is the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine. The first MMR vaccination should be given when a child is 13 months old, followed by a booster vaccination before they start school.

Why have there been vaccine fears?

Shamed doctor Andrew Wakefield was struck off for discredited research claiming that the MMR jab was linked to autism. The 1998 study caused a global scare and vaccine uptake levels fell significantly in the years after it was published.