AROUND 20 children in the area contract measles every year as some parents still refuse to let them have the MMR vaccination.

A recent localised outbreak in a nursery on the outskirts of Worcester has prompted health officials to once again urge parents to re-think their decision to refuse the jab.

Dr David Kirrage, from the Worcestershire Health Protection Agency, said MMR was the best protection against such outbreaks.

"Sporadic cases of the disease occur in Worcestershire every year and, in a typical year, there are about 20 cases."

National newspapers have revealed that the more than 400 cases of measles have been confirmed across England and Wales so far this year - the highest number recorded since the vaccine was introduced.

Dr Kirrage said: "In some areas of the county the uptake of the MMR has dropped. In Worcestershire it is picking up, which is great news, but we are still slightly below the national average.

"As with the outbreak in the nursery, we make sure any small children eligible for the vaccination are vaccinated and we ask parents, who for whatever reason decided against it, to re-think it. We also make all parents aware and make sure any children who contract it stay at home."

In February this year, health experts warned Worcestershire of an MMR time bomb as too few children were getting the controversial jab.

A survey by the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy revealed only one third of youngsters in the local health authority area were still not having the jab. It was the lowest take-up in the West Midlands.

Dr Mary Ramsay, a consultant epidemiologist with the Health Protection Agency, said that this year's cases did not yet constitute a national outbreak, but that parents should ensure their child is immunised with two doses of MMR.