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Measles outbreak

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Measles outbreak

Measles outbreak

You may have read about the worrying news that there is a national outbreak of measles in the UK, including in the Bristol and North Somerset area.

Measles is an extremely contagious disease.  The MMR vaccination provides immunity for this, along with some other options for patients to get this essential protection.

If you think you, or a family member, have been infected by measles, please DO NOT COME IN TO THE SURGERY.  Please telephone the practice in the first instance.  You will initially be booked to speak with a GP and then will be invited in to the surgery at a specified time.  Don’t be offended if we ask you to wait in your car and come and collect you from there!  As this disease is so infectious, it is possible to contract it in as little as 15 minutes in an area with an infected person.  We want to keep our other patients safe, especially given that some patients have suppressed immunity and we want to protect them, as well as you.  Please give the reception team as much information as you can when you call so that we have the best chance of identifying whether there is an infection risk before attending the surgery.

You can find really useful information on the NHS website here:- https://www.nhs.uk/measles.

Please ensure your child receives the MMR vaccine

Aside from being protected against measles, it protects you from Rubella (German Measles) and from Mumps (Mumps is the leading cause of viral meningitis).

In order to eradicate Measles, herd immunity is required.  This means that 93-95% of the population need to be immunised.  Immunisation rates have fallen below this threshold and this is why Measles has begun to spread.