Netherlands faces measles epidemic

The Dutch health ministry is urging parents to ensure their children are vaccinated against measles as the latest figures indicate an epidemic spreading across the country that has not yet peaked.

The national bureau for the coordination of communicable disease control has reported 1750 cases since April, compared with just nine for 1998. Forty children have been admitted to hospital with serious complications, including encephalitis, pneumonia, and ear and eye infections; three children have died.

The epidemic has broken out despite a 96%take up of the national …