XN000022-1976-07-29 — Page 3

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THURSDAY, JULY 29, 1976

SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN INCIDENCE OF MEASLES

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THE PRESENT OUTBREAK OF MEASLES COULD BECOME MORE SERIOUS IF PARENTS DID NOT BRING THEIR CHILDREN TO GOVERNMENT HEALTH CENTRES FOR VACCINATION IMMEDIATELY.

THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT ISSUED THIS WARNING TODAY IN YET ANOTHER ATTEMPT TO ALERT THE PUBLIC IN THE PREVENTION OF THE HIGHLY INFECTIOUS DISEASE.

DESPITE REPEATED PLEAS FROM THE DEPARTMENT, A LARGE NUMBER OF CHILDREN STILL HAVE NOT BEEN IMMUNISED AND THUS REMAIN SUSCEPTIBLE TO THE DISEASE.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT SAID THE INCIDENCE OF MEASLES HAD SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASED IN THE LAST FEW MONTHS, FROM 60 IN APRIL TO 130 IN MAY AND 260 IN JUNE.

THE INCIDENCE REMAINED HIGH THIS MONTH WITH SOME 250 CASES IN THE FIRST FOUR WEEKS, HE ADDED.

SIX CHILDREN HAVE DIED SO FAR THIS YEAR AS A RESULT OF THE DISEASE.

+ IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF ALL PARENTS TO ENSURE THAT THEIR CHILDREN ARE IMMUNISED SO THAT LIVES ARE NOT NEEDLESSLY LOST,+ THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

HE EXPLAINED THAT MEASLES, THOUGH NOT FATAL BY ITSELF, COULD CAUSE COMPLICATIONS SUCH AS BRONCHITIS, PNEUMONIA, MIDDLE-EAR INFECTION AND ENCEPHALITIS.

ALL CHILDREN BETWEEN NINE-MONTHS AND FIVE YEARS OF AGE SHOULD BE VACCINATED AS THIS AGE GROUP IS MOST SUSCEPTIBLE TO THE ATTACK OF MEASLES.

ONE VACCINATION CAN GIVE LIFELONG PROTECTION.

VACCINES ARE AVAILABLE FREE AT ALL MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH

CENTRES.

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