By HELEN COMPSON

Last updated at 21:33, Friday, 05 March 2010

HEALTH experts are urging parents to take their children for the MMR vaccination after a significant increase in the number of cases of mumps and measles across the North of Tyne area.

There were 1,283 clinically diagnosed cases of mumps in the North-East last year and NHS North of Tyne, which covers Northumberland, Newcastle and North Tyneside, accounted for over half of them – 662 cases.

There were also 131 confirmed cases of measles last year, the largest outbreak of the disease in the region for 20 years, according to figures published by the Health Protection Agency North-East.

Sue Gordon, acting executive director of public health for NHS North of Tyne, said: “We would urge everyone to consult their family doctors about having two doses of MMR vaccine, if they are currently unprotected.

“It's never too late to get your child vaccinated. If they’ve missed out on MMR in the past it’s always possible for them to catch up. Just contact your local GP.”

Both mumps and measles could be prevented by getting two doses of the highly effective MMR vaccine, she added.

Teenagers and young people, in particular, should be covered, otherwise they were vulnerable to catching mumps, which was prevalent in student populations.

Both mumps and measles were potentially serious illnesses and highly infectious. Neither was treatable, but both were preventable by having the two doses of the vaccine.

First published at 09:43, Friday, 05 March 2010
Published by http://www.hexhamcourant.co.uk