Multiple measles reports at Helmond primary school
GGD Brabant-Zuidoost has received multiple reports of children with measles at a primary school in Helmond. The health service urged anyone with symptoms to stay home, especially during carnival where a virus can spread quickly among the many attendees.
Measles is a highly contagious infectious disease. The virus that causes it spreads through coughing, sneezing, and talking. Symptoms start with a fever, cough, and red eyes. Three to seven days later, a rash develops, typically starting behind the ears and then spreading over the body. It can take 7 to 18 days after first contact with the virus to start showing symptoms.
In the Netherlands, children are vaccinated against measles with the MMR vaccine in the National Vaccination Program. “Vaccinated people and people who have already had measles are well protected against the disease,” the GGD said. But it is still possible that you can get the disease. Parents of children who have missed their MMR jabs can contact the GGD to organize a catch-up vaccination.
Measles usually heals on its own but can sometimes make people seriously ill. Babies, unvaccinated pregnant women, and people with low immunity are at extra risk of becoming seriously ill from measles.
Last week, the public health institute RIVM reported 34 confirmed cases of measles in the first weeks of 2025, considerably more than in the same period last year. The western parts of Noord-Brabant and the Amsterdam region had the most cases, relative to population size. In March 2024, there was an official measles outbreak at Eindhoven schools.
