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March 6, 2002

 

"British Cases Already Equal Last Year"

London Times (www.the-times.co.uk) (03/06/02); Rumbelow, Helen

 

British health officials announced Tuesday that there have been 69 confirmed cases of measles, mostly in London, so far this year, which may mean it is the largest outbreak since the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine was introduced a decade ago.  MMR uptake is lowest in London, which recorded 56 cases of measles, including 36 that were linked to a cluster infection in Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham and the "hotspot" of infection centered on Clapham's White House School.  Last week, 16 more cases were confirmed, and there are 15 more that are potentially new cases as well.  The Public Health Laboratory Service records show that Britain's worst measles outbreak since the MMR vaccine was introduced occurred in 1997, with 177 cases, and since then, the number of cases has ranged from 50 to 100.

 

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