Measles outbreak: man who died in Swansea was infected, lab tests reveal

Coroner investigates whether measles was cause of Gareth Williams's death and health officials call again for parents to immunise childrenA 25-year-old man has become the first person to die with measles in the Swansea outbreak as health authorities in Wales try to bring the highly infectious disease under control.Laboratory tests by Public Health Wales (PHW) confirmed the diagnosis within hours of the man's body being found in a flat in Swansea on Friday. He has been named locally as Gareth Williams.Investigations by the coroner as to whether the measles caused the death are continuing. If it were the reason, it would be the first measles fatality in the UK for five years.Marion Lyons, PHW's director of health protection, said: "Public Health Wales laboratory tests have confirmed a diagnosis of measles in a 25-year-old male from Swansea who died on Thursday 18 April."The tests confirm only that the deceased had measles at the time of his death. Further investigations are being undertaken by the Swansea coroner to establish the cause of death."My sympathies are with the family at such a tragic time. Whatever the cause of death in this case, we should not be surprised if, as the outbreak grows, we start to see deaths in Wales."The epidemic centred on Swansea has involved more than 800 cases – 77 of which have resulted in hospital treatment. Health officials in England are monitoring whether it is now spilling over the border. Many of the cases have involved 10- to 18-year-ol...
Source: Guardian Unlimited Science - Category: Science Authors: Tags: The Guardian Infectious diseases News Health Vaccines and immunisation Society MMR UK news Wales Source Type: news