HUDDERSFIELD parents are being urged to give their children the MMR jab.
The call comes after 49 measles cases have been recorded in Yorkshire so far this year making the region the fourth worst-hit in the country.
But there have been no measles cases in Kirklees, health experts confirmed today.
One case was recorded in our area, but the patient had acquired the illness overseas.
Now parents are being called on to beware of the illness.
Dr Howard Barnes, of the West Yorkshire health protection unit, said: “Although we haven’t had any locally acquired cases of measles in the Kirklees area as yet this year – due mainly to high MMR uptake rates locally – there has been an increase in the number of cases seen in other parts of Yorkshire.
“Unfortunately, due to low MMR uptake rates in other parts of the country, we are seeing a national increase in cases of measles.
“As we have an increasingly mobile population, it’s more important than ever that children are protected against this very serious illness.
“The good news for parents is that it’s never too late to get your child vaccinated. If children missed out on MMR in the past or haven’t had their second dose, now is the time to get your child protected and make sure they’re fully vaccinated.”
The call comes after national measles cases trebled over the past 11 weeks.
But in Kirklees, 91% of eligible children between January and March, 2007, were vaccinated against mumps, measles and rubella by their second birthday.
The figure is significantly higher than the national average of only 85%.
Dr Mary Ramsay, a consultant epidemiologist with the Health Protection Agency, said: “Over the summer holidays we have seen more cases of measles being reported than we would normally expect.
“This means it is crucial that children are fully immunised with two doses of MMR before they return to school.”
