HEALTH experts fear there may be further measles outbreaks in the region.

Latest reports confirm that there have been 22 GP diagnoses of measles in Cheshire.

Seven of these, in Middlewich, Sandbach, Congleton and Crewe, have been confirmed by laboratory tests. Further lab results are awaited.

The children affected are aged between one and 12. One required hospital treatment but has since recovered.

MMR vaccination has been offered to the affected households as recommended in national guidelines.

But public health officers fear the worst is not yet over.

Dr Sam Ghebrehewet, consultant for the Health Protection Agency (HPA) in Cheshire, said: "It's worrying that we potentially have 22 cases of measles in Cheshire and my fear is that we will see further outbreaks in the region.

"Our priority is to improve MMR uptake and we are working very hard to that end."

Yesterday, Dr Rosemary McCann, the HPA's immunisation lead for the North West of England said: "We are on the cusp of a measles epidemic and we must do all we can to head it off.

"The only sure way for a child to avoid measles is to have two doses of MMR vaccine, preferably by age five, but at any age up to 18 if people have been previously unvaccinated."