County Durham and Darlington's NHS trust has issued a warning to patients who attended an A&E department last week as they may have been exposed to measles.
Anyone who attended University Hospital of North Durham's (UHND) A&E department on Friday (May 24) is being urged to look out for any symptoms of measles.
They have warned that anyone who visited between 9pm and midnight may have been exposed to the infection, which is characterised by high temperatures, sneezing and a rash.
A statement reads: "If you visited our Emergency Department (A&E) at Durham between 21.00hrs and midnight on Friday 24th May, you (and anyone with you) may have had contact with a person who had measles.
"This means that if you (or your child if they were with you) are not fully vaccinated against measles with two doses of the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine, you or your child may be at risk of developing measles."
Young children who are given two doses of the MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccine are usually protected, but the trust has urged pregnant women, people with a weakened immune system and those who haven't had their two vaccines to be cautious and look our for symptoms.
The trust added: "You should speak to your GP or NHS 111 if you or your child get a high temperature with a cough, runny nose, sore red eyes or rash in the 3 weeks after attending the A&E at UHND at the same time as someone with measles.
"You should try to call your GP or NHS 111 before visiting them in person. This is to avoid spreading measles to others.
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"Tell your doctor that you or your child attended the department between 21.00hrs and midnight on 24th May 2024 and that you may therefore have been in contact with someone who has measles.
"It can be difficult to know when to seek help if your child is unwell. If you are worried about your child, especially if they are aged under 2 years old, then you should seek medical help."
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