Clinics held to halt measles spread.

HEALTH experts in Hartlepool are holding clinics in primary schools in a bid to halt the town's measles outbreak.

The number of confirmed cases in the Hartlepool area has now risen to 48 with a further 85 suspected.

There are also 23 confirmed cases in the Stockton area, 10 in Middlesbrough and eight in Redcar and Cleveland..

With the uptake rate for the Measles Mumps and Rubella (MMR) vaccine across the area at only just above 80% at age 2, this means almost one in five young children are at risk of contracting the highly-infectious disease.

Parents of those children whose health records show no MMR vaccination are now being written to.

The letters, inform the parents of where and when the school clinics are being held and the benefits of, and safety of, the vaccine.

NHS Hartlepool has arranged clinics in the following primary schools: Wednesday - Ward Jackson School 8.30am- 1pm; Thursday - Barnard Grove School 9am- 2pm, and Friday - Owton Manor School 11.30am-3.30pm Further clinics are being planned in all of the primary schools across Hartlepool before the end of the school year in July.

Peter Kelly, executive director of public health said: "These clinics are an ideal opportunity to protect your loved ones from measles, which is caused by a very infectious virus.

"The MMR vaccine is safe and effective, and prevents illnesses that have potential to cause serious harm."