THE York mother of an autistic girl has reacted angrily to warnings of a measles epidemic due to declining uptake of the controversial MMR vaccine, calling it "political rubbish".

The warning was made in a letter to The Lancet journal by Simon Murch - one of the doctors involved in controversial research into the vaccine - who also reiterated that there was no link between the measles, mumps, rubella jab and autism.

The epidemic warning was backed up by Dr Eberke Okereke, consultant in communicable disease control for the North Yorkshire Health Protection Unit, who said: "North Yorkshire has experienced a decline in the uptake of the MMR vaccine, as has the rest of the country.

"Fortunately we have not experienced the outbreaks that have been seen in other parts of the country, however if rates continue to decline a measles outbreak in North Yorkshire will become reality."

But Rebecca Scotter, of Huntington, whose nine-year-old daughter, Rachael, started suffering symptoms of autism within 48 hours of the triple jab, said if there were real fears of an epidemic then the single measles jab should be made available on the NHS.

London-based Dr Murch, a paediatric gastroenterologist, was involved in research into the MMR vaccine in 1998, led by Dr Andrew Wakefield.

The team backed the safety of the vaccine, but Dr Wakefield voiced a personal opinion that the jabs might be better given separately.

In his letter, Dr Murch said: "There is now unequivocal evidence that MMR is not a risk factor for autism - this statement is not spin or medical conspiracy, but reflects an unprecedented volume of medical study on a worldwide basis.

"Unless vaccine uptake improves rapidly, major measles epidemics are likely in the UK this winter."

But Ms Scotter is convinced that the MMR vaccine is linked to her daughter's autism and is involved in group legal action against Merck and Co Inc, the vaccine's manufacturers.

She said: "It's all politically and financially motivated."

Updated: 10:01 Saturday, November 01, 2003