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30
NOTICE AS TO MEASLES.
For distribution to all responsible persons in infected premises.
Saint Pancras, London.—Health Department.
MEASLES.
Measles is a highly infectious disease, and very liable to prove fatal unless proper
care is taken of the patient.
The first symptoms of the disease are those of a cold—shivering, couching,
sneezing, redness of the eyes, and running of the nose—and it is infectious for
several days before the rash appears.
In view of the large number of children who die from Measles every year, parents
are advised in all cases to seek medical advice.
Measles is infectious for at least three weeks from the commencement of the
illness, and the infection may be conveyed to others by those living in the house,
or by their clothes, therefore particular attention is called to the following directions
:—
1.—No healthy child from a house where measles exists should attend any
school (including a Sunday school) for at least three weeks from the date of
the appearance of the rash, and if a second or subsequent case of Measles
occur, three weeks should be allowed to elapse before any child from the
same house is permitted to attend school.
2.—It is dangerous for parents to visit or to receive visits from neighbours
while their children are suffering from Measles, or to allow their children
to play with other children in streets, yards, gardens, or elsewhere.
3.—A child or children suffering from Measles should on no account be
allowed to roam about the house, but should be confined to one room, both
with the object of preventing the spread of infection, and also the danger of
exposure to draughts, which may cause fatal lung complications.
4.—Upon the complete recovery of a patient, not less than three weeks
from the date of onset, the sick room or house should be thoroughly cleansed
and aired, and the clothes of the patient washed, or cleansed and aired,
according to the material.
5.—A child that has suffered from Measles should not be allowed to
return to school until at least a week after complete recovery, so that the
absence of the patient should last at least one month.
N.B.—Notices similar to this will be sent to the Occupiers of any premises upon
yvhich the Medical Officer of Health is informed that Measles prevails.
John F. J. Sykes,
Medical Officer of Health.
^3^ Please circulate this Notice amongst the other Occupiers of the house.