Measles

Measles cases confirmed - act now

Measles is a serious disease and spreads very easily. It can be dangerous, especially for babies, young children and antenatal women.

Symptoms

Typically those with measles experience cold-like symptoms such as fever, red watery eyes (conjunctivitis), runny nose and cough. After a few days, small white spots may appear inside the mouth. A rash appears starting on the face and behind the ears. It then spreads all over the body.

• rash
• fever
• loss of appetite
• sore, red eyes
• cough

Possible complications

A person with measles often will feel very unwell. 1 in 5 of those who catch measles will require hospital care and complications are common.

• hearing loss
• blindness
• pneumonia
• encephalitis
• brain damage
• death

If you think you / your child might have measles, contact your GP or NHS 111 for advice. You should try to call your GP before visiting in person to avoid spreading measles to others.

If you catch measles antenatally, you and your baby may become seriously unwell. As there is no antenatal vaccine, families need to be up-to-date with their immunisations.

Published: May 20, 2025