Immunization Newsbriefs (c) Copyright Information Inc.,

Bethesda, MD. Brought to you by the National Network for

Immunization Information (NNii). Visit NNii's new website at

http://www.immunizationinfo.org .

------------------------------------------------------------

August 14, 2002

INTERNATIONAL IMMUNIZATION NEWS

"Fears Rise of Fatal Mumps Outbreak in Children"

Independent (UK) ( www.independent.co.uk ) (08/14/02) P. 10;

Arthur, Charles

Cases of mumps have increased this year in the United Kingdom,

say British health officials, who warn  that there could be an

outbreak of the potentially fatal disease among schoolchildren.

Officials report that 131 cases of the disease occurred in

England and Wales during this year's first quarter, a 14 percent

increase from the 115 cases reported in the previous quarter.

The Public Health Laboratory Service predicts the disease may

spread among secondary school children because they may not have

received the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccination or may

have only received one dose instead of two.  However, a lab

spokeswoman said the increase in mumps cases had "nothing to do"

with declining MMR vaccination rates or the use of single

vaccines.  The rising cases of mumps are among children too old

to have had MMR, which was not introduced until 1988 or among

those who may have had only one dose, given at age 18 months; the

second dose is administered at five years of age.

Vaccination News Home Page

ALL INFORMATION, DATA, AND MATERIAL CONTAINED, PRESENTED, OR PROVIDED HERE IS FOR GENERAL INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED AS REFLECTING THE KNOWLEDGE OR OPINIONS OF THE PUBLISHER, AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED OR INTENDED AS PROVIDING MEDICAL OR LEGAL ADVICE.  THE DECISION WHETHER OR NOT TO VACCINATE IS AN IMPORTANT AND COMPLEX ISSUE AND SHOULD BE MADE BY YOU, AND YOU ALONE, IN CONSULTATION WITH YOUR HEALTH CARE PROVIDER.