Measles vaccination appeal issued

Newton Stewart is one place where measles has been confirmed

A measles outbreak in Dumfries and Galloway has prompted an appeal to vaccinate children amid concerns it could spread outside the region.

Three confirmed cases in adults - and five suspected ones in children - have been identified in the area.

Public health consultant Dr David Breen said measles could easily be prevented by the MMR vaccine.

However, he added there were a number of unimmunised people who risked extending the outbreak across Scotland.

Dr Breen said: "We are concerned at these rising numbers. We are not just concerned with Dumfries and Galloway.

We are not talking about an infection which can't be prevented Dr David Breen Public health consultant

"Health Protection Scotland are concerned about the spread up the west coast and all over the country.

"There is a pool of unprotected people who have - for their own reasons - not received the MMR vaccine."

He urged people who might have had objections before to seek vaccination now that the region was facing an outbreak situation.

"I would ask people to reconsider and to protect their children with two doses of MMR vaccine," he added.

Parents are being urged to get their children vaccinated

"We are not talking about an infection which can't be prevented.

"It can and it can still be prevented and we could cut this outbreak down if everybody went along and got immunised."

Wigtownshire GP John Macdonald diagnosed one of the first cases which have now been confirmed in Newton Stewart, Kirkcowan and New Galloway.

"I went down to see this lady and she had typical measles that I hadn't seen for almost 20 years," he said.

"I don't think there is any reason for people to panic.

"Measles is an unpleasant but not usually a life-threatening situation - although as we have seen there are exceptions to that."

Investigations are still continuing into how the first case was caused and vaccination will be offered to groups considered to be at risk.