NHS advice and materials for professionals on measles

Following UKHSA modelling published earlier in the year, a joint letter from UKHSA and NHS England was sent to health professionals and Directors of Public Health in England to remind colleagues of the risk of a measles outbreak in London due to the sub-optimal uptake of the MMR vaccine in the capital. The letter also notes that outside of London, there is high risk of cases linked to overseas travel in specific population groups.

Message for patients

There is information on measles on the NHS website. This includes advice to parents and carers to check if their child has measles, including photos of the measles rash. The rash looks brown or red on white skin. It may be harder to see on brown and black skin. 

UKHSA are working on getting images of measles on darker skin, but there are some in this guide https://www.blackandbrownskin.co.uk/mindthegap)

Measles is a highly infectious viral illness, so anyone with symptoms is advised to stay at home and phone their GP or NHS 111 for advice, rather than visiting the surgery or A&E, to prevent the illness spreading further. 

Posters and leaflets 

• UKHSA has produced a new poster for health professionals in identifying measles, what to do if they suspect measles and ensuring staff are fully vaccinated. Health professionals can download and order the poster (up to 5 copies) for free via the health publications website.

UKHSA materials 

• Measles: information and poster for health professionals
• Measles: information for schools and healthcare centres
• Measles: Don’t let your child catch it – poster
• Measles: Don’t let your child catch it flyer (for GPs)
• Measles: resources for local government
• Think measles: poster about measles in young people
• Think measles: patient leaflet for young people
• Think measles: poster for young people
• Measles outbreak resources
• Measles: protect yourself, protect others
• Measles and rubella elimination UK indicators

 Other publications and assets on MMR for can be downloaded and ordered for free in multiple languages by healthcare professionals on the health publications website

Download our patient-facing measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccination invitation materials. The invitations encourage people to contact their GP surgery and are available in 2 formats, including translated versions in over 20 languages.  

NHS England has provided a Measles frequently asked questions