A UK government health agency has released a fresh alert urging people to be on the lookout for signs of measles, with a reminder that it is a “highly infectious” disease.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) shared a post on social media on Wednesday, 29 January, which contained crucial details of what symptoms to be aware of. It also issued a warning about how easily the disease can be transmitted to others.
The post reads: “Measles is highly infectious. 1 person can infect 15 other unvaccinated people on average. Being vaccinated helps protect you, and others who can’t be vaccinated such as young and unborn babies.”
A short infographic video within the post lists further details about measles, pointing out that it is more infectious than flu, norovirus or COVID-19. It offers further information about the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine, explaining that it is the best preventative measure and providing a link to the NHS website for more information.
The vaccine is recommended for all babies and young children, but older children and adults can have it if they did not receive it when they were younger.
Measles usually begins with symptoms similar to the common cold, such as fever, a blocked or runny nose, coughing, sneezing and eyes that are red, sore and watering. A rash forms on the skin a few days later, usually starting on the face and behind the ears before spreading across the body. Some sufferers may also have small spots inside the mouth.
The spots may form into blotchy patches, but do not usually cause itching. On white skin, the rash comes up as brown or red, but may not be as easy to see on darker skin tones. Advice from the NHS states that if you have had both doses of the MMR vaccine, or have previously had measles, it is highly unlikely you will get it, reports the Mirror.
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If you suspect you or your child may have measles, if your child is under one year old and has been in contact with someone who has measles, or if you have been in close contact to a measles patient and are pregnant or have a compromised immune system, you should phone the NHS’ 111 service or ask for an urgent GP appointment.
You should also seek urgent medical advice if:
- You or your child have a high temperature that has not lowered after taking paracetamol or ibuprofen
- You or your child are having problems with breathing, as you may feel more short of breath
- You or your child are passing less urine, or your baby has fewer wet nappies
- You or your child feels very unwell, or you are concerned something is seriously wrong
- Your baby or young child is not feeding well, or taking fewer feeds or fluids than normal
Anyone who knows they have measles should not go into work, school or nursery for at least four days from when the rash first shows, and try to avoid being in close proximity with babies, anyone who is pregnant, or anyone with a compromised immune system.
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