The man who died lived at this flat in Swansea
19 April 2013
['Did he die at all, you have to ask yourself, was he even alive? I don't think even the absence of a real body would put off big pharma. In the piece that I wrote that got disappeared, I had commented upon the apparent BBC Wales intro to the story that was as full as a blocked karsi of grammatical errors. Just found the url for the article: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-22215185. Oddly there is no journalists name with the 'article', just a side bar analysis from James Gallagher Health and science reporter, BBC News. Also it's full of intended or unintended jokes; such as 'Dr Marion Lyons, of Public Health Wales, says a death in Swansea would not be a surprise'. Well what about Manchester, I would like to ask her? One question I asked of Smelly Becky the Fish, was why should Andy have blood on his hands when he recommended single measles vaccines, and it's MMR that has damaged and killed so many children. it's probably Professor David Salisbury Director of Immunisation at the Department of Health, London, who is responsible for this poor man's death. MMR, has killed and maimed thousands, I would image that he has blood flowing from every orifice. What I suppose we could do is write our own story and send it to BBC Wales. 'The body of an adult male was found in an underground car park in the centre of Cardiff today.There seems to be the possibility that the man died of an adverse reaction to MMR, although police haven't yet confirmed this. The Coroner's officer who works as a part time night watchman for Glaxo Sunday Klines told this journalist, that it was definitely a suspicious death and detectives from Hampstead police station were only not arresting Dr Wakefield because they thought that the massive head injury caused by the back bumper of a large car might possibly have had something to do with it. However, while they are pondering this, it has been suggested by officers from nearby Highate Village that it common for young men who make fantastic claims of being adversely affected by MMR, to go round head butting large cars.' If we're lucky we might get the shadow science minister to support the case that the man died after receiving his MMR jab'. Swansea measles epidemic: Man who died had measles Martin Walker]
The man who died lived at this flat in Swansea
19 April 2013
A man who died in Swansea had been suffering from measles at the time, says Public Health Wales.
The 25-year-old, named locally as Gareth Williams, was found dead at a flat on Thursday.
Public Health Wales (PHW), which is tackling an epidemic of more than 800 cases, said tests confirmed only that the man had measles at the time of his death.
A post mortem examination has yet to take place to confirm cause of death.
"Public Health Wales laboratory tests have today confirmed a diagnosis of measles in a 25-year-old male from Swansea who died on Thursday 18 April," said Dr Marion Lyons, PHW's director of health protection.
Dr Marion Lyons Public Health WalesWhatever the cause of death in this case, we should not be surprised if, as the outbreak grows, we start to see deaths in Wales”
Further investigations are being undertaken by the Swansea coroner to establish the cause of death.
If confirmed, it would be the first death in the measles epidemic.
"My sympathies are with the family at such a tragic time," said Dr Lyons.
"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".
Mr Williams' body was discovered in a flat at Port Tennant Road, Swansea at about 08:15 BST on Thursday.
Earlier, police called the death "sudden and unexplained".
Between one in 1,000 and one in 3,000 people infected with measles will die.
Globally it is one of the leading causes of death in children.
Like many childhood diseases, it is worse when adults are infected as the risks of complications are higher.
Two doses of the MMR vaccine give near total protection against the disease.
But confidence in the vaccine dived after, now discredited, claims of a link with autism by Andrew Wakefield a decade ago.
Experts believe the MMR scare has left more than a million school children vulnerable to the infection.
Many people now have no recollection of measles epidemics in the UK.
Health officials say the man who died in Swansea had been infected with measles although more tests are needed to confirm a cause of death.
But it still acts as a warning of how rampant and deadly the disease can be.
There have been 808 cases of measles confirmed so far in the Swansea epidemic, which also includes the neighbouring Neath Port Talbot and Bridgend areas, and further into mid and west Wales.
MMR jabs are being offered in schools although initial take-up was said to be "disappointing" by Abertawe Bro Morgannwg health board.
There will also be drop-in sessions for the third Saturday in a row at Morriston and Singleton Hospitals in Swansea, the Princess of Wales Hospital in Bridgend and Neath Port Talbot Hospital.
Last weekend around 2,500 people received the MMR vaccination at special clinics held across south Wales.
Dr Marion Lyons, of Public Health Wales, says a death would not be a surprise
Dr Brendan Mason, a consultant epidemiologist with PHW, said he could not comment on Gareth Williams' death as it was still being investigated.
He told BBC Radio Wales that there was a "real possibility" that every measles case could end up in hospital, in intensive care, or have a worse outcome.
"Anyone born after 1970 should make sure they are immunised, especially those in the 10-18 year-old age group," he said.
"Lots of people are not taking it seriously and we have to continue to promote immunisation, not just to protect individuals but also their families and the wider community."
Dr Lyons added: "Measles is a potentially fatal disease and around one in every 1,000 people who contracts measles in developed countries will die.
"Those not fully vaccinated with two doses of MMR are highly likely to catch measles, which is highly contagious."
Symptoms of measles include fever, cold-like symptoms, fatigue, conjunctivitis and a distinctive red-brown rash that appears a few days into the illness.