Suspected measles outbreak

Pupils in measles test alert

Daily Mail

12th December 2002

A suspected measles outbreak involving children as young as four has renewed fears of an epidemic of the disease due to low uptake of the MMR jab.

More than 15 pupils at a primary school in Kennington, South London, are being tested after showing signs of the virus.

The alarm comes as Public Health Laboratory figures reveal 215 confirmed cases of measles were reported up to the end of September, compared with just 72 for the whole of last year.

Many children showing early signs of measles at Kennington's Crampton primary have not had the combined measles, mumps and rubella jab, which is feared to be linked to autism and bowel disease.

Uptake of the controversial jab has fallen as low as 65 per cent in some parts of Southwark.

Nationally, just 84 per cent of children had received the triple jab by their second birthday - 11 per cent below the World Health Organisation's recommended target.

Kathy Durnford, of Health Choice UK, which is planning an emergency clinic for single measles jabs in Kennington on Saturday, said: 'This Government will be to blame for very serious outbreaks of disease if this continues.'

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©2002 Associated New Media

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