PUBLIC health officials have spoken of their frustration after revealing the uptake of the single measles, mumps and rubella vaccination in Suffolk is worse than in the slums of Brazil.

PUBLIC health officials have spoken of their frustration after revealing the uptake of the single measles, mumps and rubella vaccination in Suffolk is worse than in the slums of Brazil.

Another spate of cases in the county in recent months has led to fresh concern that parents opting not to get their children immunised are leaving the area vulnerable to outbreaks.

Dr Torbjorn Sundkvist, consultant in communicable disease control at the Suffolk Health Protection Unit, first warned three years ago the uptake of the MMR jab was worse than in the slums of Rio de Janeiro.

And, despite a report linking the vaccination with autism since being discredited, he said many parents were still snubbing it.

Since the start of 2007, Suffolk has recorded 23 cases of measles across all age groups.

However there is only an 85 per cent take-up rate of two doses of the MMR vaccination (which is more effective) in the county.

Health experts say the figure needs to be at 90-95pc if the disease is to be eradicated.