1 March 2024
Dear Parents and Carers
A large outbreak of measles has occurred in Birmingham, and we are now seeing measles cases in Sandwell. The UK Health Security Agency has reported that, during this outbreak, children who have been double vaccinated with MMR have experienced no cases of measles. Therefore, if a child has received both doses, measles is highly unlikely.
Measles spreads easily and spending just 15 minutes in a room with someone with measles will infect 9 out of 10 people around them. It can cause severe complications and permanent disabilities in certain people. The most at risk are people with weak immune systems, infants under 12 months and unimmunised pregnant women.
People with measles (particularly children) can be very poorly and many will attend their GP, urgent care centre and/or A&E. Measles can cause death on rare occasions.
Measles main symptoms include:
- High fever (which increases until rash appears)
- Cough
- A runny nose
- Conjunctivitis (pink eye)
- On around day 4 a rash appears (usually starting on the face/behind ears and then spreads down the body and lasts for around 4 days)
If you think you or someone you know may have measles, please contact your GP or NHS 111 by phone. It is important to inform any health care setting you may have measles before you arrive so you can be isolated on arrival.
Adults and children can be vaccinated at any age if they have not been fully vaccinated before. To arrange a vaccination, contact your GP.