Mass vaccinations against measles are being rolled out across Switzerland to cope with the country's worst epidemic since 1999.

The epidemic has reached all parts of the country, with 2,000 cases in the past 16 months and 133 sufferers treated in hospital, the Federal Health Office said on Friday.

Half of those affected were aged between five and 15. A total of 98 per cent of patients had either received just one of two necessary vaccinations or had not been vaccinated at all.

The Health Office, the conference of cantonal health directors and the association of cantonal doctors have issued a joint appeal to doctors to check their patients' records and offer vaccinations to adults born after 1963 who have not already had the virus.

Young children will be vaccinated as part of the regular immunisation programmes. Steps will also be taken to improve prevention such as excluding affected pupils from school and monitoring their family members.

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