A NATIONAL measles outbreak has bypassed Bucks, but parents are still being urged to protect their youngsters against the virus.

So far this year there have been only four confirmed cases of measles in the county and health bosses have reported the infection is not on the rise in High Wycombe.

But reports have shown cases of measles are going up nationally. In 2007 so far there have been 480 confirmed cases of the virus, which is most common in kids aged between one and four. In 2006 there were 756 cases of measles throughout the UK of which 15 were from Bucks.

The controversial MMR jab is used to protect children against the virus and they will usually receive two shots to keep them fully vaccinated. But the Health Protection Agency (HPA), which released the figures, says parents are not bringing their kids in for their second shot.

It is now reminding mums and dads to take their youngsters to the doctors for their second shot before they go back to school.

Mary Ramsay, consultant epidemiologist with the HPA, said: "In January to March 2007, uptake of the MMR vaccine was at 88 per cent for the first dose, but only 74 per cent for the second dose. After the first dose between five per cent and ten per cent of children are not protected against measles, hence two doses of MMR will give better protection."

Dr Ramsay added it was never too late for children to get vaccinated.