Need to know
Over 60 cases of measles have been reported at ‘at least’ seven schools in Enfield and Harginey, north London, with children hospitalised by the ‘fast spreading’ outbreak
Everything you need to know about measles after London schools outbreak leaves children hospitalised
- Children across multiple schools in north London, have been infected with measles as a local GP surgery has confirmed “at least” seven schools in Enfield and Haringey have been impacted. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said over 60 cases were reported in schools and nurseries in the area between January 1 and February 9.
- Enfield’s NHS Ordnance Unity Centre for Health said in a statement that children “are being hospitalised” due to a “fast spreading measles outbreak” across schools. According to the surgery, one in five children who contracted the disease had been admitted to hospital.
- The health centre said those in hospital “had not been fully immunised” as it warned parents to make sure their children were vaccinated by checking their ‘red book’ or contacting their practice nurse.
- Dr Vanessa Saliba, constultant epidemiologist at UKHSA, said the outbreak was “mostly affecting unvaccinated children under 10 in schools and nurseries”. She added that it is “a nasty illness for any child, but for some it can lead to long term complications and tragically death”, saying that it is “easily preventable with two doses of the MMRV (measles, mumps, rubella, chickenpox) vaccine.”
- According to the NHS, the symptoms of measles usually present in three stages, starting with a ‘cold-like illness’. Symptoms of this stage can include a high temperature, runny or blocked nose, sneezing, cough, and red, sore, watery eyes. Small white spots may appear inside the cheeks and on the back of the lips a few days later. A distinctive rash, usually red or brown on lighter skin, usually appears a few days after, starting on the face and behind the ears before spreading to the rest of the body.
READ THE FULL STORY: All the measles symptoms parents should know as ‘major’ outbreak hits schools in UK city
