Research and analysis

HPR volume 11 issue 30: news (25 August)

Updated 15 December 2017

Revised National Measles Guidelines for England published

Revised guidelines for the public health management of measles in England have recently been published by PHE [1]. These guidelines provide detailed recommendations on:

• risk assessment and appropriate laboratory investigation of suspected measles cases
• the identification and management of susceptible contacts so as to limit ongoing transmission and prevent severe disease in high-risk groups

The revisions have been informed by a review of current measles epidemiology in England and an updated literature review on the risk of transmission of measles outside the household setting. The revised national guidelines take account of changes in laboratory testing services; for example, they now include indications for urgent PCR testing – which is available through PHE regional laboratories. They also reiterate the requirement for an oral fluid sample to be submitted for every suspected case, regardless of local testing. These measures are critical for the assessment of progress towards measles elimination, to meet requirements for reporting to the World Health Organization and to identify pockets of susceptibility and inform appropriate public health interventions.

The national guidelines refer to separate guidelines on post-exposure prophylaxis for measles [2], also newly revised by PHE. These describe indications for PEP for contacts of measles cases and the high-risk groups that should be prioritised for PEP: immunosuppressed individuals being the highest-priority category, followed by immune-competent, high-risk groups, such as pregnant women and infants.

References

1. PHE (August 2017). PHE National Measles Guidelines: August 2017.
2. PHE (August 2017). Guidelines on Post-exposure Prophilaxis for Measles.

Migrant Health Guide available on PHE website

PHE’s Migrant Health Guide is a free-to-use, online resource designed to support primary care practitioners in caring for patients who have come to the UK from overseas [1]. The guide has undergone an extensive update to incorporate the latest figures, guidelines and statistics.

In particular, pages have been expanded on mental health, human trafficking, vulnerable migrants and cultural competency for providers, reflecting some of the key issues today in migrant health.

The Migrant Health Guide is organised into 4 sections:

• Migrants and the NHS, which provides information about access and the entitlements of migrants to NHS services
• Assessing Patients, which includes a checklist for assessing new patients from overseas and advice for patients who may be travelling abroad to visit friends and relatives
• Countries, which provides information specific to over 100 countries of origin of migrants in the UK
• Health Topics, which comprises separate sections on communicable diseases and non-communicable health concerns

All of the chapters include links to useful resources in English and other languages, where available.

The migrant health guide is a concise yet informative resource that aims to address the health needs of migrants to the UK promptly and effectively through supporting the practitioners who care for them.

Reference

1. PHE website. Migrant Health Guide.

Infection reports in this issue of HPR

The following infection report is published in this issue of HPR.

Vaccine-preventable disease

Laboratory confirmed cases of measles, mumps and rubella, England: April to June 2017