Hampshire County Council Public Health Team Measles Communication

Dear Parent/Carer,

You will be aware from recent media headlines that cases of measles are increasing in England. This has led public health authorities to raise the national response level and instigate a multiagency response nationally with the aim of limiting further spread. 

Please click here to read the latest communication from the Hampshire County Council Public Health Team regarding measles, including guidance with identification, vaccination, and managing outbreaks.

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. 

If you have any future general enquiries for Services for Young Children, please complete the General Enquiry form.

Kind regards, 

Services for Young Children

Children’s Services Directorate

Hampshire County Council

Elizabeth II Court West, 1^st and 2^nd floor
Winchester
SO23 8UG

Top Tips On Keeping Winter Bugs At Bay

With temperatures dropping this month Clare Joy – an NHS school nurse working locally – explains in this short video some top tips on keeping winter bugs at bay and using the Healthier Together app for advice.

You can watch on the Hampshire and Isle of Wight NHS YouTube channel.

Download Healthier Together for advice with common childhood illnesses  

It can sometimes be hard for parents to know the best way to help children recover from winter bugs.

Healthier Together has been developed by local clinicians and gives simple advice on how to help them get better at home.

The app will also help you to spot the signs if it is something more serious and guide you to the right help.

Visit what0-18.nhs.uk, download from the App Store or get it on Google Play.

The UK Health Security Agency have also published helpful advice on spotting the signs of when to keep children home. You can visit the Hampshire and Isle of Wight NHS winter wellness web page for more advice on keeping warm and well this winter.

Measles Update

You will have seen the news regarding the rise in cases of measles in London and the large outbreaks in the West Midlands.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has now declared a national incident in order to focus actions to limit the spread. Further outbreaks of measles will spread to other towns and cities unless urgent action is taken to increase Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) vaccination uptake in areas at greatest risk. Children who get measles can be very poorly and some will suffer life changing complications.

To support this incident the Department of Education (DfE) has published: What to do if you think your child has measles and when to keep them off school guidance for parents and for schools.