Measles at school or childcare

The contagious period for measles lasts from 4 days before the rash first starts until 4 days after the red dots appear. This means that people can spread the disease without noticing, because they do not know yet that they have measles.

If a person with measles was at school or childcare in their contagious period, then the Municipal Public Health Service (GGD) will contact the school or childcare facility.

The GGD will usually then do contact tracing and notify anyone involved, such as the employees and the children’s parents. The GGD will also talk to the school, childcare facility and parents about what else is needed. If an employee from a school or childcare facility has measles, the GGD may also consult with the company doctor.

Staying home if you have measles

A person with measles is not allowed to go to school, childcare or work. If you suspect that your child has measles, keep the child at home and call the GP.

If the GP says that your child has measles, tell the childcare provider or teacher. They can work with the Municipal Public Health Service (GGD) to notify other parents.

After the contagious period is over, your child can return to school or childcare.

If you think that you might have measles yourself, stay home and call your GP. If the GP says that you have measles, consult with the GGD, the company doctor or your employer before returning to work.

Public health advice from the GGD

If measles is present at your child’s school or childcare facility, the Municipal Public Health Service (GGD) will check how likely it is that others are infected.

If there is a risk that your child may have contracted measles, the GGD will contact you. then the GGD will check if it is possible to protect your child against measles if the child is not (yet) protected. The GGD will also tell you what you should do if your child develops symptoms that could indicate measles.  

If you have not received information from the GGD, then it is unlikely that your child has measles. You do not need to keep your child at home for just a runny nose. A runny nose is probably caused by the common cold.

If you are concerned about your child’s health, call the GP.

Contact with a measles patient

If your child played with another child who has measles, and your child is older than 14 months and vaccinated according to the National Immunisation Programme, you do not have to take any action. The MMR vaccination protects against measles.

If your child has not had the MMR vaccination yet, it is still possible for your child to get an MMR vaccination until your child is 18 years old. It is free. You can contact your local Youth Healthcare Services organisation to arrange an appointment. If your child gets the MMR vaccination within three days after exposure to measles, the vaccination could still offer protection.

Do not go to the Well-Baby Clinic with measles

A child with measles should not go to the Well-Baby Clinic. Many of the babies at those clinics have not yet been vaccinated against measles. That is why children with measles are not allowed to go to the clinic. Measles is contagious even before the first spots of the measles rash appear on the body. The virus can spread quickly within a family, without anyone noticing right away. For that reason, if a child has measles, their siblings are also not allowed to go to the Well-Baby Clinic.

Are you unsure if your child has measles? And do you have an appointment at the Well-Baby Clinic? Call the clinic beforehand. They can tell you the best course of action in your case.

Refusing unvaccinated children

Children are required by law to go to school from the age of 5 years. That is why schools are not allowed to refuse to admit unvaccinated children. In the childcare sector, a legal framework is in place for considering whether or not to refuse unvaccinated children and employees. Information about this topic is available on Government.nl.

During a measles outbreak in the Netherlands, there is no point in refusing access to school or childcare for all unvaccinated children. Children who are not protected against measles, or not yet, can still be exposed to measles outside school or childcare.

However, if a child has measles, it is important that their younger siblings do not go to childcare. This is so young babies who are not yet vaccinated will be contract measles. This Municipal Public Health Service (GGD) will discuss this with the parents of the children who have measles.