Is anyone else concerned about the Measles outbreak in the Swansea area?

[IwishIwasmoreorganised]

We live in the Vale of Glamorgan, and had letters fom Public Health sent home from school before the Easter break saying that there had been a few cases in our immediate area. We were in the WMC over the weekend and there are notices there asking people to be vigilant for the signs and symptoms

The numbers affected have now topped 500 in the Swansea area.

Our ds's have both had 2 doses of the MMR, but as the start of the summer term draws nearer (they go back on Monday), I'm feeling more concerned.

There's nothing realistically that I can do to protect them any more is there?

[bruffin]

I have read it numerousvtimws in context. It clearly says therefore two uses. One is an alternative singles vaccine to mmr because mmr isnt safe. It is also to be used to as a transfer factor to repair the so called damage of mmr and measles.
Its all there for anyone else to read
AW was also found guilty at the GMC of experimenting on a child with this transfer factor when it had noth gone through any testing.

[bumbleymummy]

There was a perfectly good single vaccine available on the NHS at the time.

[IwishIwasmoreorganised]

Glad to hear that your DH is on the mend triballeader. That sounds terrifying.

I am trying to find out from my Dad and GP at the moment if I have been vaccinated - not having much luck!

[givemeaclue]

The people who haven't had their kids vaccinated are very unwise and are putting the health of the wider population at risk. I would love to know what proportion of those who have unfortunately contracted measles haven'tabeen vaccinated

[bumbleymummy]

You could always get a blood test to check.

[IwishIwasmoreorganised]

The GP's are very reluctant to do that - I'm not sure why though!

[triballeader]

Based on the hospital blood tests done on my husband- the test to check if you have immunity to measles costs and takes over a couple of weeks to test and come back [anyone who is seriously sick in hospital gets raced through and that still took 3 days] whilst an MMR costs a heck of a lot less and takes minutes. I suspect that trusts will be testing those who arive in hospital and are sickest as path lab priority to see if they have any immunity before any reosurces can be given to community based health care.
It should be in the vaccination section of your medical records if you have had an MMR or main record if you have had measles in the past.

[bumbleymummy]

YOu can pay to get it done privately - I think the results just take a few days to come back. Or you could just get the MMR anyway - which is probably what they will recommend if you can't find your record.

[HHH3]

I just wondered if I could ask a question?...

I've checked with my mum and I had the measles vaccine (this was before MMR was available). I have an 8 year old who's had the MMR and a 4 month old who obviously hasn't yet. He's EBF and I was wondering if I'm passing any immunity on to him? Have no reason to be worried as afaik there are no cases anywhere near me. But it's got me wondering.

TIA

[PJM18]

Hi. I have recently read on an nhs website that the mmr offers protection against measles for at least 30 years and mumps for at least 19 years. Does that mean there are a lot of adults who are not immune to measles and mumps?
Trail leader, sorry to hear your husband has had such a terrible time. Did he have measles vaccine as a child?

[IwishIwasmoreorganised]

I think I'll just ask if I can have the MMR.

Wonder what they'll say - the closest case of measles is in the next county.

[LoveSewingBee]

The mother provides the baby with antibodies before birth and also through breastfeeding. However, this passive immunity will only last for weeks or a few months. It also depends on the immunity levels of the mother (eg if the mother does not have immunity against measles then she can not give antibodies to the baby).

Adults are actually advised to catch up on immunisations - not just MMR, but the whole range as appropriate (NHS guidelines), although not all GPs seem to be aware of this. So yes, you can definitely ask for the MMR as an adult. Will give much faster protection than asking for a blood test, having to wait for the result and then possibly still needing a vaccination.

[triballeader]

He had measles twice as a child as most people did in the 1960's. HIs mum assumed he had to have had measles and german measles so he helped me look after our daughter who on medical advice could not have the MMR - the big problem was he did not then develop any immunity to the thing which neither of us knew until he became acutely unwell and collapsed. His blood tests continue to show no immunity to measles. That has me absolutely gob smacked. It has given me a real insight why the Health Protection Association encourages 95% take up of MMR to provide herd immunity for the sake of those like my daughter under oncology and my husband whose immune system just does not pick up as it should.
If anyone has a child under the recommended age for MMR and is concerned chat to your HV or GP - they will know if you have isolated measles cases near you even if you do not as it is a notifable disease and the HPA tracks where it appears and how it spreads if it gets loose in a community . The horrible thing is its carried by most of us but struggles to get going unless it meets a person who is not vaccinated or has poor immunity. I am hoping we will not end up being responsible for a west mids outbreak and I have told every person I can who may have been near us that we have had measles in the family so folk can get an MMR or know to contact their doctor if they start the three 'C's [cough, coryza [cold like symptoms], conjunctivitis] just before a fever starts [39+] the rash can start around the face and looks at first like a mild case of sunburn before it starts to mottle and come up as a slightly raised set of red spots] The HPA have also been tracking possible vulnerable people my husband and daughter may have been in contact with.
The HPA are responsible for confirming a suspected case of rubeola measles as rubeola. Once its confirmed they then watch to see if its spreading as has happened in Swansea, parts of the NE then it becomes an outbreak and the public are advised to get vaccinated if they are not already.

[MyDarlingClementine]

how do i find out if i have immunity to give to my baby?
will my docs be helpful, i almost shake with fear asking my docs anything as the response is unhelfpul.

i am really really worried about going away and exposing her to it at the airport etc.

we are also going with another couple who are not as hot on personal hygiene for instance asking them in the dead of winter if they had washed their hands before touching week old baby, took it more of an insult and didn't actually physically go and wash hands...they thought i was being silly, this was with flu and noirvirus going round.
ie more difficult for me to make sure baby isnt touched by anything that could have measles on it.

[IwishIwasmoreorganised]

My GP surgery have finally looked through my old notes.

I had a measles jab in 1977 and a rubella jab in 1978. I am booked in for a MMR next Monday.

[Summerloading]

Has anyone else seen this? According to official statistics, most of the reported cases were not measles after all.

www.anh-europe.org/news/uk-measles-hysteria-reaches-fever-pitch

[Summerloading]

Here's another link

gaia-health.com/gaia-blog/2013-05-04/welsh-measles-epidemic-was-faked/

[scaevola]

Poor article. It doesn't say how many cases were tested and found not to be measles. Not all cases were sent for lab confirmation (rules different in Wales). And without information on how many were tested, it's impossible to extrapolate anything.