SCEPTICAL parents who decided not to give their children the MMR triple vaccine are being urged to think again as a mumps epidemic gathers pace in the region.

The number of new mumps cases in the North-East is running at about 145 a week.

This compares with an average of only 26 a week last year.

Officials from the Health Protection Agency (HPA) warned that the number of mumps cases in the region was rising steeply.

Latest national figures show that the number of mumps notifications in England and Wales jumped from 4,204 in 2003 to 16,436 last year.

While the vast majority of mumps cases are in the 18 to 23 age group, health officials want the parents of young children, who have missed out on the MMR - measles, mumps and rubella - vaccination, to reconsider their decisions.

While about 84 per cent of North-East parents have immunised their children with MMR, a significant minority have decided against having the jab because of unsubstantiated claims that it could be connected with autism.

Health officials in the region are keen to stress that there is no evidence that MMR is harmful.

"What is happening at present illustrates the importance of having the MMR vaccine," an HPA spokeswoman said.

"The mumps epidemic among young adults is increasing the risk to younger children who are not protected. That is why it is really important that children are immunised."

Health officials based at the regional HPA office in Newcastle are asking the parents of young children who have not had the MMR triple jab to get in touch with their family doctor and arrange to have their child immunised.

Mumps is a viral infection. Symptoms include discomfort caused by facial swelling and a high temperature. It can cause testicular swelling in men and ovarian swelling in women.