6:46pm Tuesday 18th March 2008
By Claire Lomax
A double health alert has gone out following an outbreak of influenza and scarlet fever across the district.
All schools in Bradford and Airedale have written to parents, on the advice of the Health Protection Agency, asking for help to bring the influenza b outbreak under control.
The agency is also warning of an outbreak of scarlet fever centred on West Yorkshire, with more cases reported since January than in the whole of last year.
So far up to 60 children are showing symptoms of influenza b and parents are being asked to follow simple hygiene rules in a bid to halt the illness in its tracks. These include covering mouths when coughing and sneezing, using paper tissues, which should be promptly disposed of.
People with long-term health conditions such as heart and lung disease or diabetes, are being urged to get a flu vaccination as a matter of urgency, if they haven't already done so this winter.
Dr Martin Schweiger, consultant in communicable disease control at the West Yorkshire unit of the Health Protection Agency said: "Outbreaks of flu are more common at this time of year and the infection can easily be spread among people who are living or working close together.
"If adults or children have flu-like symptoms they should stay away from work or school until they are 48-hour symptom free."
The warning comes as West Yorkshire Health Protection Unit is reporting an increase in the number of scarlet fever cases across the county in recent weeks.
There have been 100 possible cases since the start of January, more than the 99 cases reported for the whole of last year. The illness is most common in children and young adults and the majority of recent cases have occurred in under fives.
First symptoms often include a sore throat, headache, fever, nausea, and vomiting. Between 12 to 48 hours after this, a rash develops, usually in those aged under 18 years.
Anyone who is suffering from the illness, which is spread by coughing and sneezing, should stay at home for at least 48 hours once antibiotics have been started to avoid passing it on.
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