Measles Cases Hit New High Of 886 In Wales

The number of people infected with measles has shot up by 78 in just five days, taking the total who have contracted the disease in southwest Wales to 886.

Public Health Wales (PHW) revealed the latest number of people affected as officials urgently called for more to get vaccinated.

The fresh call comes following the death of a 25-year-old father-of-one from Swansea, who had the disease.

PHW director of health protection Dr Marion Lyons warned the current epidemic is showing no signs of ending.

"There is still an urgent need to vaccinate more children if we are going to end this outbreak," she added.

"The hardest-hit age group is those between 10 and 18 so we would remind those young people and their parents that now is the time to be vaccinated.

"We have seen in the last few days that measles can be potentially fatal and no one should be complacent about the severity of measles.

"It can kill but can be prevented by a simple, safe vaccine."

PHW said its latest figures related to cases of measles between November 1 last year and April 22 this year.

Of that total, 712 have been in the Abertawe Bro Morgannwg area while 99 were in the Hywel Dda region and 75 in Powys' health board zone.

Typical symptoms of measles include fever, cough, conjunctivitis and a rash.

Complications are quite common even in healthy people, and about 20% of reported measles cases experience one or more complication.

These can include ear infections, vomiting and diarrhoea, pneumonia, meningitis and serious eye disorders.

Before the introduction of the MMR jab in 1988, about half a million children caught measles each year in the UK. Approximately 100 of those died.

While the latest epidemic is centred on Swansea, cases have continued to be reported across Wales.

Last week, PHW revealed that tests are to be carried out on the body of Gareth Colfer-Williams, 25, who died at his home in Swansea on April 18.

While Mr Colfer-Williams had measles, officials are still trying to establish whether it was the disease that killed him.