Suspected measles death in Swansea
The measles epidemic in Swansea may have claimed its first victim – a 25-year-old man who had the disease.
A spokesman for the Swansea coroner told Channel 4 News Home Affairs Correspondent Andy Davies that Gareth Williams was suffering from measles when he died at home yesterday morning.
The cause of death will not be known until the results of a post-mortem examination are released, probably not until next week.
The measles epidemic in south Wales, attributed to low take-up of the MMR vaccine, is spreading rapidly. The total number of cases has risen to 808, making it one of the worst measles epidemics to hit the UK in the last decade.
‘Potentially fatal’
Dr Marion Lyons, from Public Health Wales, said: “Testing the deceased for measles is forming part of the investigations being overseen by the coroner.
“Whatever the cause of death in this case, we should not be surprised if, as the outbreak grows, we start to see deaths in Wales.
Swansea Coroner spokesman has just told me that 25 year old who died in Swansea DID have measles at the time. (1/2)
— Andy Davies (@adavies4) April 19, 2013
Swansea Coroner spokesman: further tests will be carried out to determine cause of death. Post Mortem results likely next week. (2/2)
— Andy Davies (@adavies4) April 19, 2013
“Measles is a potentially fatal disease and around one in every 1,000 people who contracts measles in developed countries will die.”
A Welsh government spokesman said: “We continue to be in close contact with Public Health Wales and to stress the importance of vaccination as the most effective way to protect against measles.”
Special vaccination sessions are being held in five schools in the area today and will be extended to 10 throughout next week.
Highly contagious
Dr Lyons added: “Those not fully vaccinated with two doses of MMR are highly likely to catch measles, which is highly contagious.
“We know that there are unprotected people in all age groups but we have particular concerns about the 10 to 18 age group.
“We are therefore urging all parents of children who have missed doses of MMR to arrange vaccination for them as a matter of urgency.”
Measles symptoms include fever, cold-like symptoms, fatigue, conjunctivitis and a distinctive red-brown rash that appears a few days into the illness.
Babies and teenagers
So far, 77 people have been taken to hospital as a result of the epidemic.
The majority of those needing treatment are believed to be babies and teenagers who had not previously been vaccinated.
About two million children in the UK have not had the full MMR vaccination.
Many parents decided not to have their children vaccinated because of speculation, now discredited, that there was a link between the MMR jab and autism.
Dr Andrew Wakefield, who propagated the theory, was struck off