Sussex among worst areas affected by measles outbreak (From The Argus)
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Sussex among worst areas affected by measles outbreak
8:50am Sunday 10th February 2013 in News
A measles outbreak across Sussex has contributed to the highest level of cases nationally for 18 years.
There were 330 confirmed cases of the disease in the county during 2012 although the actual number is higher because samples are not taken from every patient.
Brighton and Hove was the worst affected with 195 people falling ill while East Sussex had 90 and West Sussex 45.
The outbreak made up a significant part of the 2,016 confirmed cases in England and Wales throughout the year, according to figures from the Health Protection Agency (HPA).
The increase is blamed on poor take up rates for the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine (MMR).
Around 95% of a community needs to have both doses of the jab in order for it to have the best protection against the virus spreading.
Vaccination
HPA head of immunisation Mary Ramsay said: “Coverage of MMR is now at historically high levels but measles is highly infectious and can spread easily among communities that are poorly vaccinated, and can affect anyone who is susceptible, including toddlers in whom vaccination has been delayed.
"Older children who were not vaccinated at the routine age, who may now be teenagers, are at particular risk of becoming exposed, while at school for example.
"Measles continues to circulate in several European countries that are popular with holidaymakers.
"It is often associated with being a disease of the past and, as a result, people may be unaware that it is a dangerous infection that can lead to death in severe cases.
“Parents should ensure their children are fully protected against measles, mumps and rubella with two doses of the MMR vaccine.”
For more information, people should visit their GP.
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Comments(13)
006 and a third
says...
10:25am Sun 10 Feb 13
The higher proportion in Sussex is probably down to those the larger number of morons that swear by homeopathy and crystal healing.
Justin
says...
10:38am Sun 10 Feb 13
They are encouraged by reckless homeopathy and natural health proponents who peddle a ridiculous anti-vaccine, anti-real medicine line.
Angie Wright
says...
12:18pm Sun 10 Feb 13
We are not all morons (we might think the same of you but not so rude as to voice it ) nor do we necessarily follow homeopathy or crystal healing. Never heard of the latter.
mimseycal
says...
12:40pm Sun 10 Feb 13
- 1 out of 20 children with measles gets pneumonia, the most common cause of death associated with measles.
- Around 1 child in 1000 develops acute measles encephalitis, an inflammation of the brain that can lead to convulsions and can have severe consequences, such as deafness or mental retardation. The mortality rate of measles encephalitis is around 15%.
- Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSP)
This fatal complication occurs in 1–10 patients in 100,000 and usually starts 6 to 8 years after the initial measles infection. First signs are intellectual deterioration or psychological disturbances, and other neurological symptoms, e.g. convulsions or aphasia, follow. The disease progresses slowly with a highly variable course. Some 75% of patients go blind during the course of infection. The illness lasts 1 to 3 years and inevitably leads to death.
- An infection during pregnancy often results in spontaneous abortion or premature birth. Some surviving infants develop only mild disease, while others show severe symptoms and complications, often pneumonia.
Just a few of the charming consequences to a reduction in herd-immunization against measles. A tad like playing Russian Roulette really ...
mimseycal
says...
12:43pm Sun 10 Feb 13
006 and a third wrote:Some individuals cannot take the vaccination safely due to genetic complications or pre-existing medical conditions. That is why herd-immunizations is so essential. Those of us who can be immunized, should be immunized.
No MMR jab should mean no access to school.
The higher proportion in Sussex is probably down to those the larger number of morons that swear by homeopathy and crystal healing.
006 and a third
says...
12:48pm Sun 10 Feb 13
Angie Wright wrote:Much of what you have said demonstrates profound ignorance - not something most people would want to make public.
How many deaths have their been of this fatal disease in the Brighton and Hove area with this latest outbreak? I am still waiting to get it (age 65 yrs) . We weren't vaccinated in my day, but I looked after 3 sons who had it very trivially. My grandson is also thought to have had it recently but no one seemed sure? He couldn't be kept in bed either. Some people don't want their children's immune system compromised by overdosing with vaccines. There is still a lot of autism about ??? Something is causing it.
We are not all morons (we might think the same of you but not so rude as to voice it ) nor do we necessarily follow homeopathy or crystal healing. Never heard of the latter.
"There is still a lot of autism about??? 'something' is causing it".
Is astonishing. Perhaps everyone should stop being exposed to 'something' then? MMR is safe. Maybe autism is caused by parents watching the Jeremy Kyle Show - the number of cases increased slightly since he's been on TV?
Measles can be a devastating disease leading to death, awful suffering, or a lifetime of avoidable disability.
Autism was around long before MMR. Perhaps the small increase is down to better diagnosis which now includes much milder forms on the autistic spectrum that weren't recorded in the past.
If your comment encourages just one more ignorant parent to avoid getting their child vaccinated then I think you should question the merits of speaking out when quite obviously clueless about the issue.
whereisthe...?
says...
1:06pm Sun 10 Feb 13
"I know better than doctors, am paranoid, and believed all the scare stories The Sun told me in the Nineties"
GROW UP. And before any whining, this is fact. Highest un-vaccinated group has been shown as single parent mothers.
But I suppose somehow some people will still find a way to blame it all / 'share' the blame with men... (yes some are also to blame, but the facts clearly point to women)
And get on Google yourself and type in the obvious search words instead of feigning ignorance at how to use a keyboard if you want to look at data.
whereisthe...?
says...
1:09pm Sun 10 Feb 13
this place is overflowing with far too many over-privileged, "me, me, me" women who seem to be under the impression they can behave like infants yet get outraged when anyone tells baby they can't do something.
WELCOME TO BRIGHTON
006 and a third
says...
1:14pm Sun 10 Feb 13
mimseycal wrote:What 'genetic complications' are you talking about? That's nonsense.
006 and a third wrote:Some individuals cannot take the vaccination safely due to genetic complications or pre-existing medical conditions. That is why herd-immunizations is so essential. Those of us who can be immunized, should be immunized.
No MMR jab should mean no access to school.
The higher proportion in Sussex is probably down to those the larger number of morons that swear by homeopathy and crystal healing.
Anyone too sick to receive vaccination is told to delay it until well enough.
Anyone worried about it or having become concerned after listening to some loon about governmnet conspiracies, should not delay talking to their GP.
JimTiberiusKirk
says...
9:31pm Sun 10 Feb 13
I don't mean to sound glib, but with all these serious complications, whatever did people do before the MMR jab? Reading some of the comments, I'm amazed we've reached the 21st century...
JimTiberiusKirk
says...
9:39pm Sun 10 Feb 13
And, please, before I get labelled anti vaccine, I'm not. I've had many on my travels. I'm just not in favour of having them for every single disease.
And no, it's not anything like Russian Roulette I'm afraid to say.....
mimseycal
says...
11:38pm Sun 10 Feb 13
006 and a third wrote:Severely immunocompromised individuals should not be routinely vaccinated. For instance congenital immunodeficiency which is present at the time of birth, and is the result of genetic defect. Bruton's agammaglobulinemia is another congenital disorder. DiGeorge syndrome ... yet another disorder that starts during fetal development.
mimseycal wrote:What 'genetic complications' are you talking about? That's nonsense.
006 and a third wrote:Some individuals cannot take the vaccination safely due to genetic complications or pre-existing medical conditions. That is why herd-immunizations is so essential. Those of us who can be immunized, should be immunized.
No MMR jab should mean no access to school.
The higher proportion in Sussex is probably down to those the larger number of morons that swear by homeopathy and crystal healing.
Anyone too sick to receive vaccination is told to delay it until well enough.
Anyone worried about it or having become concerned after listening to some loon about governmnet conspiracies, should not delay talking to their GP.
There are a number of others but I guess I've made my point.
sound_man says...
9:29am Sun 10 Feb 13