You are in > manchester.com  > News > Immunisation clinics opened after measles outbreak

General Manchester news

Immunisation clinics opened after measles outbreak

31/08/2007

An outbreak of measles in one of Greater Manchester's Jewish communities had led to a large immunisation initiative in north Salford.

Salford Primary Care Trust has reported 11 confirmed cases of measles this week and special immunisation centres have now been opened at the Agunda Centre and at Higher Broughton Clinic.

Dr Rosemary McCann, from the Greater Manchester Health Protection Unit, said: "We have a window of opportunity to prevent further spread by providing MMR vaccination to close personal contacts of a suspected case within 72 hours of them being exposed."

In the past three months, there have been measles outbreaks in Wigan and Tameside. In April 2006, a 13-year- old boy from Manchester became the first person to die from measles in Britain in almost 15 years.

According to the Health Protection Agency (HPA), the number of confirmed measles cases across the country has trebled since June. There have been more than 480 cases this year.

Dr Mary Ramsay, a consultant epidemiologist at the HPA, said: "Measles is a highly infectious and dangerous illness and, as there is increased close contact in schools, it can spread easily."