MEASLES cases in the Swansea area have now soared above the 1,000 mark.
New figures from Public Health Wales show the number of people who have had the highly contagious illness has now reached 1,011.
Around 4,000 youngsters aged between 10 and 18 have received the MMR vaccine in the Swansea area in the last month.
The increase in vaccinations given in the Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University Health Board area have reduced the numbers of unvaccinated children by 40 per cent — with MMR now given to around 4,000 of more than 9,000 identified as needing vaccination.
But with around 50,000 10 to 18 year-olds still unvaccinated across Wales, Public Health Wales is warning that the response seen in the outbreak area needs to be mirrored across the country to bring the outbreak to an end.
The 10 to 18 age group is the hardest hit age group in the current outbreak.
Efforts are being made across Wales in schools, GP surgeries and at drop-in clinics to curb the numbers in the age group still vulnerable to catching measles.
The number of measles cases reported to Public Health Wales in the area most affected by the outbreak has increased by 69 to 1,011 since Thursday.
The figure includes cases in the Powys, Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University and Hywel Dda health board areas.
By comparison, the number of cases notified across the whole of Wales since November has been 1,142.
Dr Marion Lyons, Director of Health Protection for Public Health Wales, said: "The efforts to vaccinate susceptible children in the Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University Health Board area have been tremendous and we are delighted to see that around half of children needing vaccination have now received the MMR.
"But with around 50,000 children in the 10 to 18 age group still not vaccinated, and more than 1,000 cases now reported to us, we cannot be complacent.
"While not enough children are vaccinated, this outbreak can easily spread anywhere in Wales.
"Therefore we urge parents of children, and young people themselves, to take up opportunities to receive the MMR vaccine as a matter of urgency.
"Vaccination sessions are continuing in schools throughout Wales and I urge pupils and their parents to take advantage of these."
New figures from Public Health Wales show the number of people who have had the highly contagious illness has now reached 1,011.
Around 4,000 youngsters aged between 10 and 18 have received the MMR vaccine in the Swansea area in the last month.
The increase in vaccinations given in the Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University Health Board area have reduced the numbers of unvaccinated children by 40 per cent — with MMR now given to around 4,000 of more than 9,000 identified as needing vaccination.
But with around 50,000 10 to 18 year-olds still unvaccinated across Wales, Public Health Wales is warning that the response seen in the outbreak area needs to be mirrored across the country to bring the outbreak to an end.
The 10 to 18 age group is the hardest hit age group in the current outbreak.
Efforts are being made across Wales in schools, GP surgeries and at drop-in clinics to curb the numbers in the age group still vulnerable to catching measles.
The number of measles cases reported to Public Health Wales in the area most affected by the outbreak has increased by 69 to 1,011 since Thursday.
The figure includes cases in the Powys, Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University and Hywel Dda health board areas.
By comparison, the number of cases notified across the whole of Wales since November has been 1,142.
Dr Marion Lyons, Director of Health Protection for Public Health Wales, said: "The efforts to vaccinate susceptible children in the Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University Health Board area have been tremendous and we are delighted to see that around half of children needing vaccination have now received the MMR.
"But with around 50,000 children in the 10 to 18 age group still not vaccinated, and more than 1,000 cases now reported to us, we cannot be complacent.
"While not enough children are vaccinated, this outbreak can easily spread anywhere in Wales.
"Therefore we urge parents of children, and young people themselves, to take up opportunities to receive the MMR vaccine as a matter of urgency.
"Vaccination sessions are continuing in schools throughout Wales and I urge pupils and their parents to take advantage of these."