The father of a Wandsworth baby spoke exclusively to the Borough News about his young son's fight against measles earlier this month and the dilemma parents face over the MMR in the light of current debate.

He does not want his family to be identified but was keen to express his opinion as his son recovers from the potentially deadly disease at home in Wandsworth Common.

The couple's first child, now five, had the MMR without her parents having any more qualms than normal about vaccination but, as the dad says, things were different when they came to immunise their 19-month-old son.

This time they discussed the issue at length, following news reports with interest and taking advice from a research chemist friend who had decided against the MMR for his own child.

Finally, they decided to go ahead with the vaccine but events such as the tot developing chickenpox shortly before Christmas and a subsequent family holiday, meant the date for the jab was not set until January 25.

The toddler started feeling unwell on January 17 and after around five days of lethargy and high temperature, he was diagnosed with tonsillitis.

It was not. The little boy had measles. A rash around his mouth which his parents initially thought might be a milk rash, soon spread to his face and behind his ears.

The child had not been near any of the nurseries or schools cited in connection with the outbreak or, indeed, had much contact with any other children.

The family doctor referred the baby to hospital where measles was confirmed.

Within four hours of its arrival, the rash had spread all down their son's body and white spots could be seen inside his mouth.

Young medical staff who had never seen the disease before were visiting the bedside to see the symptoms for themselves.

His parents were told to nurse him at home with plenty of fluids.

His father says: "It's obviously upsetting and a very nasty disease. I did find it surreal they way people were coming and looking at him. I wanted to say, It's measles not some exotic disease'."

He says friends had actually contemplated bringing their own children round to catch it in the same way parents treat outbreaks of chickenpox to get it out of the way.

The boy's father says: "I think people see measles as being like chickenpox but it isn't and there can be added complications."

He adds he and his wife would probably immunise any other children they might have but "one will keep reading all one can".

He says he looked at the arguments in the press and on the internet and has been particularly annoyed at Prime Minister Tony Blair's handling of the crisis.

He says: "I think he did the case for MMR no favours. The privacy of his child was not worth the anxiety caused to the nation's parents."

He adds: "As a parent, one feels slightly powerless. If doctors are divided about the issue, what chance do we have of making up our minds?"