THE Health Protection Agency has renewed calls for parents to protect their children with the MMR vaccine.
Cases of mumps and measles have seen a large rise in the area so far this year.
There were 481 confirmed cases of mumps reported by the middle of 2009 – a 350 per cent rise compared to the same period in 2007.
There have also been 92 confirmed cases of measles in the first half of 2009, which is a huge increase from the two cases in 2007. Most measles cases in recent years have occurred to children under five.
Dr Paul Cleary, acting consultant regional epidemiologist for the Health Protection Agency said: “We are concerned at the increasing cases of mumps and measles.”
Mr Cleary urges parents to protect their children by making sure they get two doses of the MMR vaccine.
Children should receive their first dose at 13 months and a second dose before starting school.
The vaccine is also safe and effective for young adults.
At week 29 of 2009, Cheshire and Merseyside have reported 196 cases of mumps and 30 cases of measles.
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