healthmedicinet

16 April 2013
Last updated at 08:26 ET

Health Minister Mark Drakeford says the disease had not yet peaked

The number of cases in the Swansea measles epidemic has now reached 765, amid warnings it will continue to rise for weeks.

Health officials said there had been an increase of 72 since last Thursday.

Some 77 people have been hospitalised since the start of the outbreak in November last year.

Health Minister Mark Drakeford said the only way to halt the outbreak was to ensure those who need the MMR vaccination got it.

However, Conservative opponents have accused the Welsh government of responding slowly to the epidemic.

In a letter to the assembly’s children and young people committee, Mr Drakeford reveals that Public Health Wales convened its first outbreak control management meeting on 18 February.

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School vaccinations

Delvin Baker, chair of governors at Cwmtawe Comprehensive:

“The task is to vaccinate around 270 pupils – about a quarter of our school – who haven’t been vaccinated yet.

We’ve sent out consent forms to parents and we need them back before the inoculations can take place.

We hope because of the seriousness of the outbreak and the seriousness of some of the complications that the majority will put themselves forward to be vaccinated.

The head teacher has also told me they will be offering it to staff and support staff born after 1971.

The clinic will take place during school time on Friday.”

There were 168 notified cases in the Abertawe Bro Morgannwg Health Board area by the time the meeting was convened.

The Conservatives said the health minister should make a statement to the assembly chamber.

Mr Drakeford and First Minister Carwyn Jones will face questions about the outbreak in the Senedd later on Tuesday.

The health minister said the Welsh government was aware the outbreak “is yet to reach its peak”.

The minister, who has written to update AMs, MPs and health boards, added: “Indeed, we can fully expect cases to continue to occur for a number of weeks yet.

“The only way to halt the outbreak is to ensure as many people as possible have the MMR vaccine to protect themselves, their children, family members and others in the community who may not be protected for a variety of reasons.”

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Abertawe Bro Morgannwg Health Board will begin vaccination sessions in schools on Wednesday.

Catch-up clinics

Other health boards will also offer school catch-up clinics targeting schools with low vaccine uptake.

Last weekend, around 1,750 people received the MMR (mumps, measles and rubella) vaccination at special clinics held in four hospitals.

Mr Drakeford said: “It is encouraging that parents are continuing to bring their children forward but the numbers need to be higher to bring the outbreak under control.”

But the minister said it was estimated around 5,000 children remain at risk from measles in the Swansea area.

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“Start Quote

It is extremely disappointing that no oral statement has been scheduled and it’s about time ministers broke their silence”

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Darren Millar AM
Conservative health spokesman

Mr Drakeford added: “I anticipate therefore that the numbers of cases will continue to rise over the coming weeks until the levels of MMR vaccination coverage reach levels where the continuing circulation of measles in the community can be interrupted.”

Details showing the extent of the Swansea measles epidemic and other cases across Wales have been published online by Public Health Wales (PHW).

The page includes up to date figures and details of how the epidemic has grown weekly since 1 November, 2012.

It also lists the total number of measles notifications for every health board across Wales.

Tory health spokesman Darren Millar said: “It is extremely disappointing that no oral statement has been scheduled and it’s about time ministers broke their silence.

“We need to know what conversations ministers are having with health boards, when they first became aware of the epidemic, and what long-term plans are being put in place to deal with uptake of the MMR jab in those parts of Wales where it remains low.”