Wales News

Public Health Wales is warning of its concerns that outbreaks of measles may start to be seen outside of the Swansea area as cases continue to be reported across Wales.

There have now been 1,074 cases of measles in the area affected by the outbreak – an increase of 13 in the last two days – and 1,237 across the whole of Wales.

Dr Marion Lyons, Director of Health Protection for Public Health Wales, said: “Thirteen new cases in the last two days may not seem like a lot, but it should be remembered that in 2011, we only saw 19 measles cases in the whole of Wales for the whole of the year.

“There is no way of knowing where the next outbreak could strike so the message is simple – wherever you live in Wales, if you are a young person who hasn’t received two doses of MMR or the parent of a child who hasn’t, please arrange vaccination urgently".

• Health
• Wales
• measles

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.

• Health
• Measles
• Wales

The number of measles cases recorded in the Swansea outbreak - which started last November - has passed 1,000, Public Health Wales said.

Some 1,011 cases have now been recorded and 9,000 people aged between 10 and 18 still need to be vaccinated.

In the last month, 4,000 people have received the MMR jab.

But Public Health Wales has warned that the country as a whole needs to replicate Swansea's response to the outbreak, with 50,000 10 to 18 year-olds still unvaccinated across Wales.

• Health
• Measles
• Wales

More than a third of this summer's British and Irish Lions tour squad is expected to be provided by Wales.

The 38-man group for Australia will be unveiled today, with Sam Warburton the favourite for the Lions captaincy, aged 24, he could become Wales' youngest Lions tour captain.

Warburton has already led Wales to a World Cup semi-final in 2011, and a Six Nations title and Grand Slam last season.

At least 14 of his countrymen could join him, with Ireland likely to provide the second biggest number, followed by England and then Scotland.

Read: Rob Howley on Wales v England 6 Nations victory: 'The best day of my coaching life'

• Sport
• Rugby
• Sam Warburton

The Prime Minister has urged Welsh Conservatives to fight a "battle of ideas' in the run up to the next General Election.

Speaking at the Welsh Conservatives Autumn Conference in Swansea, he said: "We have come to office at a crossroads moment - for Wales and the whole of the United Kingdom.

"It's a moment to do or decline; to sink or swim", he added.

Mr Cameron also said that British enterprise needs to up its game in the face of "great global race" that is under way.

"Our country will either be a success story or an also-ran.

"Let's remember who and what we're fighting for. For all those people who dream of a better future and who are prepared to work for it."

• Politics
• Wales
• David Cameron

Librarians at the National Library of Wales have appealed to volunteers to stay away from the centre while staff try to assess the damaged caused by a major fire in the roof of the building yesterday.

ITV Wales understands that staff are seriously concerned that water from the fire fighter's hoses may have caused serious damage to large parts of the historic collection.

• UK
• Wales

Health officials are stockpiling hundreds of thousands of doses of the MMR vaccine across the UK in case the outbreak of measles in South Wales spreads, the Times (£) reports.

The report comes just before the government is due to outline a nationwide strategy to combat a potential measles epidemic.

• Health
• Measles
• Wales