Measles outbreak in Montgomeryshire

Health officials have issued an alert following an outbreak of measles in Montgomeryshire.

In an urgent appeal for us to distribute the warning, officials say that 20 cases have been recorded amongst children of school age in the past week alone, with a total of 41 for March.

And it has been revealed that one in four local teenagers is not fully protected against the contagious disease.

A spokesperson for Powys teaching Health Board said: “Most of these cases have been in children of school age, where the disease can spread easily, but people of all ages can be affected.

“Measles is a serious disease that can lead to long term health issues such as eye disorders, deafness, brain damage and even death. It is very important that everyone is vaccinated against this disease.

“One dose of the MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) jab will protect 90% of children and the recommended two doses of MMR jab will provide 99% protection against measles. The MMR jab is safe and offers the only protection against measles.

If you or your family have not had the ‘MMR’ jab or you are unsure if they have had it, the Health Board says you should contact your GP to arrange to be vaccinated.

They also say you should avoid going to A&E unless you are seriously ill and if you do attend, telephone ahead to let them know you or your child may have measles.

To find out more about measles, you can contact NHS Direct on 0845 46 47.