Local nurseries and childminders focus for new measles campaign

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Health Matters

A new campaign has been launched by the South West London Health Protection Unit to alert nurseries, childminders and parents to the on-going increase in measles cases across the country.

There have been a number of measles outbreaks in London throughout the year, including 18 confirmed cases in south west London since January 2006, seven of which were in the Borough of Wandsworth. In 2005, south west London only had one confirmed case of measles.

In group settings such as nurseries and childminders, measles can circulate more readily, particularly if children are not fully immunised with the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine. To help raise awareness of the increase and the importance of protecting young children with the MMR vaccine, information, advice and a new poster have just been sent to more than 3,000 local nurseries and childminders.

Dr Barry Walsh, Director of the South West London Health Protection Unit, said:

“Measles is a serious disease. While most people who get the measles virus will recover completely within a couple of weeks, it’s important to remember that measles can cause encephalitis and on occasions death in children.

“It is very important where children are together in a group situation, such as their local nursery or childminders, that they are fully immunised with two doses of MMR.

“MMR is a highly effective, safe vaccine and parents should be reminded that is not too late to get their child immunised with the MMR vaccine. If your child has not been vaccinated, please contact your GP or health visitor to arrange to get them protected against what can be nasty illnesses especially as the numbers of cases are rising locally.”

Death from measles occurs in one per 5000 cases and there was a recent death in the UK from measles. Almost everyone infected will feel generally unwell and develop symptoms such as:

? Fever
? Red, watering eyes
? Runny nose
? Dry cough
? Followed by a flat, blotchy rash 3-4 days after the start of the illness, beginning on the face and behind the ears and spreading to the whole body.

People are infectious from just before the time that they become unwell to around 4 days after the onset of the rash. Those affected should stay off school or work for five days from the onset of the rash.

September 5, 2006