Measles outbreak 'may lead to child deaths'

London faces a major measles epidemic, Government scientists warned today. It is the first time the experts have raised concerns about a measles crisis.

Dr David Brown, of the Public Health Laboratory Service, said outbreaks of the disease in the coming months could be far worse than those seen earlier this year in south London. There are fears that any large-scale outbreak could lead to deaths and serious disabilities in children.

Dr Brown, who reviewed all 51 confirmed cases from the spring outbreaks, told the Evening Standard: "The findings suggest we are getting to a stage where we are going to see more extensive transmission of the disease and that is worrying.

"Unless MMR vaccination increases, these kinds of outbreaks could happen again."

Dr Brown's study revealed that most of the cases involved the unusual D5 strain of measles, previously only been found in Thailand, Japan and Namibia.