Measles and MMR

Measles is a highly infectious illness. The illness causes a range of symptoms including fever, coughing, and distinctive red-brown spots.

The infection is spread through the air through droplets of saliva. You can catch measles through direct contact with an infected person, or through the air when they cough or sneeze. The droplets can also survive and remain contagious on surfaces for a few hours. Anyone who has not be immunised against the condition, can catch it.

Symptoms of the measles appear 9 to 11 days after the infection begins and last up to 14 days. The condition is most infectious after the first symptoms have appeared, and before the rash has developed.

Almost everyone infected will feel generally unwell and develop symptoms such as:

• Fever
• Cough
• Red and painful eyes
• Swollen glands
• Loss of appetite
• Rash, which tends to follow 3-4 days after onset of the above symptoms.

For a full list of symptoms see http://www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk/articles/article.aspx?articleId=243&sectionId=10

People are infectious from just before the time that they become unwell to around 4 days after the onset of the rash. Anyone affected should not attend College for work or study for 5 days from the onset of the rash.

Anyone concerned about the signs or symptoms of measles should contact their GP or NHS Direct on 0845 4647.

If you have any questions about the vaccines, the disease or access to clinics you can call the Lewisham NHS Immunisation Helpline on 020 7138 1444.  More information is also available on the Lewisham PCT website at www.lewishampct.nhs.uk

MMR
MMR stands for measles, mumps and rubella. All are infectious viral illnesses, meaning the viruses are passed on through droplets in the air from the coughs and sneezes of infected people.

You can be immunised against all three illnesses with one vaccine, the MMR vaccine. For more information, visit the NHS Direct web site