Warning to East Lancashire parents after outbreaks of mumps, measles, rubella and whooping cough (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Warning to East Lancashire parents after outbreaks of mumps, measles, rubella and whooping cough

11:01am Tuesday 23rd October 2012 in News By Kate Jackson, Reporter

HEALTH bosses are warning people to be vigilant after there have been outbreaks of mumps, measles, rubella and whooping cough.

Cases of the illnesses have significantly increased this year.

An outbreak of mumps at UCLAN in Preston was reported to the health protection agency (HPA) last week and health bosses are advising people have not immunised to have two doses of the MMR jabs.

Cases of whooping cough in North West England have risen from 57 in 2011 to 301 so far this year, and the total number cases in England and Wales so far this year is now more than four times higher than the annual total number of cases reported in 2011.

Measles cases in the North West have also risen from 59 to 224 and rubella from 14 to 22. Dr Mary Ramsay, head of immunisation at the HPA, said: “We have been very concerned about the continuing increase in whooping cough cases and related deaths.

“We welcome the urgent measure from the Department of Health to minimise the harm from whooping cough, particularly in young infants.

“It’s also important we continue to remind all parents to ensure their children are vaccinated against whooping cough to continue their protection through childhood.”

Dr Ken Lamden, a consultant with the HPA’s Cumbria and Lancashire Health Protection Unit, said: “Measles is circulating in the community at present. There’s a large ongoing outbreak on Merseyside and there have been smaller outbreaks elsewhere in the country. We are now seeing cases of measles in Lancashire.

“We cannot predict how many more cases will occur in Lancashire but measles is highly infectious and there is a high risk of more cases.

“We have alerted GPs in Lancashire to the fact that we have had cases here and we are advising young adults to ensure they are up to date with vaccination. We’re also advising parents to make sure their children are fully vaccinated with two doses of MMR.”