If you've not yet had your MMR vaccine NHS England are advising students to get protected against measles, mumps and rubella.
Keep听yourself healthy and look out for your friends as听all three of the diseases are听contagious and spread in the same way as colds and flu. If you think that you have any of the following symptoms you'll听need to see your GP to get a diagnosis, but it's advisable to ring first so that they can reduce the spread of infection:
- The initial symptoms of measles develop around 10 days after you're infected and听can include cold-like symptoms,听sore, red eyes that may be sensitive to light, a high temperature and听small greyish-white spots on the inside of the cheeks听followed by听a red-brown blotchy rash. For more information read the听.
- The symptoms for mumps include painful swelling under the ears, headaches, joint pain and a high temperature.听For more information read the听.听
- The main symptom of rubella is a red or pink spotty rash which听takes 2 to 3 weeks to appear after getting rubella. For more information read the听.
If you haven鈥檛 yet been vaccinated, we encourage you to read听听advice and book an appointment with your GP. You can听register with the听BU Medical Centre听on our Talbot Campus if you haven't yet organised听a GP in Bournemouth.听You can also find out more information and advice about a range of听contagious (infectious) diseases听that can often occur when large groups of people live in close contact such as in halls of residence, including flu and听norovirus.听
Meningitis awareness
Students at university or college听can be at risk of meningitis due to mixing with so many new people. It's important to be aware of the symptoms of meningitis听which can include fever, headache, vomiting, muscle pain and fever with cold hands and feet. Someone with meningitis can get a lot worse very quickly. Keep checking them. If someone is ill and getting worse, get medical help immediately. Find out more about the symptoms of and the .
If you ever think that you, or someone you know, has symptoms for any of these diseases, please call the听, your GP or the听. If you live in halls, you should also contact your accommodation provider to help minimise the illness from spreading.
If life is in danger, call the UK Emergency Services on 999 from your mobile or a landline.
