Parents in Sheffield have been put on red alert after several children were rushed to hospital with measles. 

The 'extremely infectious' disease has been on the rise across Britain in recent weeks with parents encouraged to know the symptoms to prevent outbreaks. 

Yvonne Millard, chief nurse at Sheffield Children's NHS Foundation Trust confirmed that some youngsters had been admitted however they have all since been discharged. 

She said: 'Whilst we have treated a very small number of patients this week for measles we are not currently treating anyone at Sheffield Children's.' 

It is thought that all of the children caught the bug outside the hospital. 

Parents in Sheffield have been put on red alert after several children were rushed to hospital with measles

It follows similar outbreaks in both Leicester and Cardiff earlier this month. 

Noreen West, deputy medical director at Sheffield Children's has since urged parents to ensure they are keeping their children vaccinated with MMR jabs. 

She said: 'Measles is extremely infectious and can be serious for some people, although if your child has had both MMR jabs the likelihood they will catch it is very low.

'The best way to prevent your children from getting measles is to make sure they have their two MMR vaccines on time – the first at one year of age and the second at three years, and four months.

'If you or your children missed these vaccines, it's not too late. Ask for the free vaccine from your GP if you or your children aren't up to date.

Measles is a highly contagious, and sometime fatal, disease that is capable of infecting nine in 10 unvaccinated children in a classroom if just one classmate is infectious.

While two doses of a jab called the MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccine is enough to offer 99 per cent protection, uptake across the UK is dangerously low, especially in London.

In Hackney, 41 per cent of children aren't fully-jabbed — the highest proportion in the country — and could face being told to limit their contacts for weeks if there is a measles case at their school.

Camden and Haringey, also north London boroughs, were also among those with the lowest jab uptake, with 37 and 35 per cent not having had both jabs, respectively.

In fact, the capital took the top 18 spots for most children unvaccinated against measles, with Liverpool only breaking the streak at 23.5 per cent. 

The low uptake for both MMR jabs, which sits at 85.7 per cent nationally and 74.2 per cent in London, prompted health chiefs to warn earlier this year that 160,000 measles cases could occur in the capital alone.

Worries of an outbreak promoted the city's councils to issue letters to parents in recent months warning unvaccinated children could be excluded from school for 21 days in the event of an outbreak in their classroom. 

London's Barnet Council, which recorded 29 per cent of children being unvaccinated, was one.

In a letter seen by MailOnline they wrote: 'Currently we are seeing an increase in measles cases circulating in neighbouring London boroughs, so now is a good time to check that your child’s MMR vaccination — which not only protects your child against measles but also mumps and rubella — is up to date.'

It continued: 'Any child identified as a close contact of a measles case without satisfactory vaccination status may be asked to self-isolate for up to 21 days.'

Haringey Council, which had the third worst MMR uptake of any local government area in England, is also reported to have sent out a similar letter.  

Even councils who are 'good' performers in the capital are sending out warnings.  

Hertfordshire County Council, where only one in 10 children aren't up to date with their MMR jabs, also warned parents that unvaccinated children could face a 21-day exclusion period.

The 21-day isolation period is based of guidance published in 2019 by the UKHSA in 2019. 

It states that if a measles case is detected, health teams will work with schools to advise on next steps for close contacts who haven't had both MMR jabs.

This can include an offer of MMR vaccination, issuing preventative measles medication for close contacts of the child with vulnerable health conditions and potential exclusion for up to 21 days.

Siblings of an unvaccinated child who has been in close contact with a measles case could also be asked to self-isolate.