As parents, the health and safety of our children are always our top priority. Recent health surveillance data is showing a rise in measles cases in London. This blog post is a practical guide for parents, summarising the importance of measles prevention and the actions being taken by healthcare experts and authorities.
What is measles? Measles is a viral infection that spreads through respiratory droplets when an infected person coughs or sneezes. It can lead to severe complications, such as pneumonia and brain inflammation, particularly in young children. The virus can survive in the air and on surfaces for hours, making it highly contagious.
What You Can Do to Protect Your Child:
As parents, there are several steps you can take to safeguard your child from measles:
- Ensure Vaccination: Vaccination is the most effective way to prevent measles. Make sure your child receives the recommended doses of the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine according to the schedule provided by your healthcare provider.
- Stay Informed: Stay updated with information about the measles outbreak through reliable sources.
- Practice Good Hygiene: Encourage your child to wash their hands frequently and cover their mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing. Teach them not to share food, drinks, or personal items with others.
- Be Cautious in Public Settings: During an outbreak, try to avoid crowded places with poor ventilation, as these environments can increase the risk of exposure.
Our proactive efforts as parents can significantly contribute to curbing the spread of measles and protecting our children’s health. By staying informed, ensuring vaccinations are up to date, and practicing good hygiene, we can play a crucial role in preventing the further spread of this highly contagious disease. Let’s work together with healthcare experts, government authorities, and our communities to create a safer environment for our children and promote a healthier future for all.
To help you better understand what vaccinations your baby requires, we recommend you look at the Childhealthy vaccination schedule page. Here, you can access important information regarding immunisation recommendations for your baby and child.
For more information about vaccinations, please visit our page: Why vaccines are important for children.
Useful links:
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/measles/
Resources:
https://www.rcpch.ac.uk/news-events/news/rcpch-responds-data-published-ukhsa-measles
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