XN000022-1973-05-06 — Page 3

MEASLES

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Sunday, May 6, 1973

A POTENTIALLY SERIOUS DISEASE

Tens of thousands of children between the age of six months and

five years are susceptible to measles because their parents fail to

appreciate the danger of the disease.

A spokesman for the Medical and Health Department said many parents

still think that every child should be made to go through an attack of

measles.

"In fact measles, like smallpox, is infectious and can be prevented

by vaccination," the spokesman said.

During the past 10 years, over 23,000 children have been notified

as suffering from the disease. Just under 2,200 died as a result.

Since the introduction of measles immunisation in 1968 the incidence

of the disease has declined and deaths have nearly been eliminated, the

spokesman said.

The vaccine itself is safe and effective.

Only one injection

is required and the child will be protected for at least five years.

Referring to the current annual anti-measles campaign, the

spokesman said the response had been very poor during the first three weeks.

"It appears that parents still fail to recognise measles as a

potentially serious disease," he said.

The danger of measles lies in the fact that complications, such

as bronchitis, pneumonia and middle ear infection may arise.

/Some of