Measles

SJH Emergency Medicine
NHS Lothian

Symptoms

Measles spreads very easily and can lead to serious and potentially life-threatening complications.

The measles virus is contained in tiny droplets that come out of the nose and mouth when an infected person
coughs or sneezes. The first symptoms of measles develop around 10 days after you’re infected.

These can include:

  • cold-like symptoms, such as a runny nose, sneezing or a cough
  • sore, red eyes that may be sensitive to light
  • watery eyes
  • swollen eyes
  • a high temperature (fever) which may reach 39-40°C (102-104°F)
  • small greyish-white spots in the mouth
  • aches and pains
  • loss of appetite
  • tiredness, irritability and a general lack of energy

Most people will also develop a rash (see linked Speed Read) which usually appears around 2 to 4 days after
the initial symptoms and normally fades after about a week. Typically, it first appears on the head or neck
before spreading outwards to the rest of the body and is slightly itchy for some people.

People are encouraged to call their GP for advice if they: think they may have measles, have been in close
contact with someone who has measles and are not fully vaccinated or haven’t had the infection before, have
been in close contact with someone with measles and are pregnant, have been in close contact with someone
with measles and have a weakened immune system. Please call NHS 24 on 111 outwith GP hours.

Suspected cases

Please discuss any suspected case of measles urgently with Duty Virologist to check need for testing.

Virology can be contacted via virologyadvice@nhslothian.scot.nhs.uk or 0131 536 3373, option 2, between
9am and 5pm, Monday to Friday.

Outwith hours, please call the switchboard on 0131 536 1000 and ask for Virology consultant on-call. If case warrants testing, Virology will contact the East Health Protection Team.

For practical infection control advice for patient placement and management, please refer to NHS Lothian’s
Measles IPC Management – Hierarchy of Controls document (intranet link).

MMR vaccination

The best way to prevent measles is through vaccination (two doses of the MMR vaccine). If you’re not sure
about your vaccination history, you can contact your GP practice for your records.

If you need to book one or both doses of the MMR vaccine and you’re under 25, please contact NHS Lothian’s
Vaccination Enquiries Helpline before the end of March via: loth.vaccenquiries@nhslothian.scot.nhs.uk or 0300 790 6296 (open seven a days a week, 8.30am to 3.30pm)

If you’re 25 and over, please speak to your GP if you haven’t had both doses of the MMR vaccine.

For information on MMR vaccine clinics for children, please visit NHS Lothian’s website on Measles.

As many staff may not have their vaccination status readily available, Occupational Health is currently rolling
out a mechanism to allow staff and their managers in identified clinical areas to receive confirmation that
the staff member is cleared for contact when following infection control guidance.

If you have been provided with a COHORT link, please access this and complete the short questionnaire as a
matter of priority. Staff will be offered further occupational health interventions in line with the information
they submit.

For staff members who have not been provided with the COHORT link, but wish to access information
regarding previous MMR vaccinations received via occupational health, please send an email to OHEnquiries@nhslothian.scot.nhs.uk with the subject line "Measles".

Editorial Information

Last reviewed: 03/05/2024

Next review date: 03/05/2026

Author(s): Deepankar Datta.

Reviewer name(s): Deepankar Datta.

References
  1. NHS Lothian Infection Control (Intranet), "Measles"
  2. NHS Lothian Speed Read (Intranet), "Guidance for staff on confirmed and suspected cases of measles", 2024-02-16
  3. NHS Lothian Speed Read, "Measles Update", 2024-05-03 (note intranet version not uploaded)
  4. UK Health Security Agency (hosted at gov.uk), "National measles guidelines", 2024-04-11, accessed 2024-05-03
  5. NHS Lothian Infection Control, "MEASLES IPC MANAGEMENT - hierarchy of controls", version 1.2, Feburary 2024