AN OUTBREAK of mumps has hit three schools in Greater Gwent.

Around 90 pupils from comprehensive schools in Bettws, Newport, Llantarnam, Cwmbran, and Aberbargoed have been infected.

The Gwent Health Authority has sent letters and a fact sheet to parents with children at the schools warning them of the virus which causes swelling of the face and jaw.

More than 50 pupils at Bettws High School have come down with the disease in the last week.

Dr Lika Nehaul, consultant in communicable disease control, confirmed another 30 youngsters at Bedwellty School, which has an intake including some pupils from the Blackwood area, and eight at Llantarnam, in Cwmbran, had been affected.

The local health authority are now advising parents to contact their GPs to arrange MMR jabs for their children.

Although many children at the schools will have had their MMR vaccine - some may only have had one dose, not two. Two shots of the vaccine are needed to guarantee good protection against mumps, measles and rubella.

Head teacher of Bettws High, Bob Meier, said his school was still in the throes of the outbreak and a cross section of the pupil roll had been affected.

He said: "We're in the middle of it and have had quite a number - in excess of 50 girls and boys. Hopefully it's coming to an end. The health authority has sent out letters to parents."

Letters have also been delivered to family doctors and practice nurses alerting them of the outbreak.

They have been asked to help in immunising youngsters unless there is documented evidence proving they have already had the necessary two doses.

Following the outbreak last autumn, Dr Nehaul said: "Mumps can be an unpleasant illness which can result in complications, particularly in older children and adults.

"Our purpose is not to alarm parents but to make them aware that two doses of the vaccine offer good protection."

The last mumps outbreak to hit Newport was at Lliswerry High School in November. Pupils were advised to be vaccinated after four youngsters were confirmed as having the disease.

Before 1988, mumps was a common cause of viral meningitis in children and affected one in 400 youngsters. But since the (MMR) jab was introduced, rates have significantly dropped.