§ Mr. DismoreTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the outbreak of measles centred on a school in Edgware. [36035]
§ Yvette Cooper[holding answer 13 February 2002]:
I apologise to my hon. Friend for the delay in responding to this question. I refer him to the reply that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State gave my hon. Friend the Member for Blackpool, North and Fleetwood (Mrs. Humble) on 5 March 2002, Official Report, column 192W.
There have been six confirmed cases of measles in two families.
The local health authority has written to all parents to encourage MMR vaccination and has also contacted all the GPs of children at the school to promote immunisation. GPs have also been asked to ensure that they notify any suspected case to consultants in communicable disease control so that salivary testing can be arranged.