ISLE OF MAN residents travelling in Europe are being urged to check their measles protection due to an outbreak of the disease in a number of countries.
France, Greece and Bulgaria are amongst the countries worst affected by measles and the Island’s Department of Health is urging parents of children to ensure they have had two doses of the MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccine.
“Because the world is now a global village, families travel all over the world,” Dr Parameswaran Kishore, the Island’s Director of Public Health said last night (Wednesday). “France and Greece are common summer destinations, and if anyone in the family is not fully protected, the measles virus could spread to the Isle of Man.”
Dr Kishore is further concerned because in some parts of the Island the MMR vaccination coverage has dropped to 75 – 85%. To protect both individuals and the community against the three potentially life-threatening diseases covered by this vaccine, at least 95% of children in the eligible age groups need to be vaccinated.
Dr Kishore added, “Measles is one of the most infectious diseases known. One person can infect 15 to 17 unprotected people.”
In 2006, the Isle of Man experienced an outbreak of measles - nine children had confirmed measles infection but none had serious complications. However, during that year in the UK, a previously healthy 13-year-old boy died from measles.
The drop in uptake of MMR has been the result of the scare created by the now-discredited research linking MMR with bowel disease and autism. Subsequent research all over the world has shown that there is no link between MMR and autism.
Advice to Parents:
• Parents can make an appointment with the Practice Nurse at their GP surgery to receive the MMR vaccine and any other vaccination that they or their child requires. Two doses of MMR are needed to give full protection.
• MMR is safe and effective. There is no reason to delay the first MMR vaccination which is scheduled for a child of 13 months of age. The second dose is due at three years and four months of age. Delaying a vaccination leaves that child susceptible to the disease for longer than necessary. A person no matter what age, visiting a country where measles is common should be immunised.
• Adolescents and young adults in their late teens may only have received one dose of MMR – we recommend that they not only check if they need a further dose of MMR, but also if they are up to date with their diphtheria, tetanus and polio boosters.
• You should suspect measles infection if any of the family develops the following symptoms: a high fever with cough, red sore eyes and runny nose followed by a rash three or four days later
• The rash is non-itchy in raised ‘blotches’ and fades over a week to 10 days.
• If whilst on holiday you suspect that a member of the family may have measles you should seek medical attention. It is important to ensure that you have adequate travel insurance.
