Watch out! Measles About!
A vaccination drive has been launched in Wigan to help reduce the risk of young people getting measles.
Local publicity campaign Watch Out! Measles About! aims to increase awareness of the need to ensure that anyone between one and 18 is fully protected with MMR.
GPs are being encouraged to contact patients who have not been fully immunised and offer the vaccine.
As part of the campaign, parents are being urged to protect their children with two doses of MMR vaccine following a recent outbreak of measles in the borough.
Three confirmed cases of measles, and one probable, have been reported in the Leigh area in the last fortnight.
These cases involved children aged between one and eight years, and one required treatment at hospital.
Dr Rosemary McCann, consultant in communicable disease control with the Health Protection Agency, said: "These cases prove that it is important for children to have both doses of MMR, which will give life-long protection against measles, mumps and rubella.
"These are potentially serious illnesses and many children and young people in the borough are not fully immunised and could catch measles.
"We are advising parents that if their child has missed one or both doses of MMR, they should contact their GP to arrange vaccination."
Measles is an infectious viral illness that is spread by droplets in the air from coughs or sneezes.
The most common symptoms are fever, cough, sore eyes and a rash.
Most patients make a full recovery, but some will experience serious complications that can include pneumonia, meningitis and, on rare occasions, death.
Dr Paul Turner, public health consultant with NHS Ashton, Leigh and Wigan, said: "Measles can be a serious illness with the potential for nasty complications.
"That is why it is so important for parents to protect their children with two doses of MMR vaccine.
"If you think your child has measles and needs to be seen by a doctor, you should telephone your GP surgery before taking the child to the surgery.
"This is because measles is very infectious and the doctor may want to make special arrangements for your child to be seen."
More information on measles and MMR vaccination is available at the following websites:
www.immunisation.nhs.uk (NHS immunisation information website)
www.hpa.org.uk (The Health Protection Agency Website)
www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk (NHS Direct Website)
Alternatively call NHS Direct on 0845 46 47.
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Saturday 04 February 2012
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