A measles outbreak has been confirmed on the eve of Black Friday 2017

Measles is a deadly, highly infection virus, that can lead to pneumonia, meningitis and hepatitis.

The NHS confirmed a measles outbreak in both Leeds and Liverpool on November 23.

It urged people suffering from symptoms to stay at home, and to phone their GP for medical advice.

Measles symptoms include coughing, a rash, sore, watery eyes, and a fever.

The warning comes as the UK begins Black Friday, what was the UK’s third busiest shopping day of the year in 2015; behind December 23, and ‘Super Saturday’ December 17.

NHS Choices tweeted yesterday: “Measles outbreak in Leeds and Liverpool.

“Measles is an infectious illness that can be very unpleasant and sometimes lead to complications.

“Symptoms include: high fever; sore, red, watery eyes; coughing; aching and a blotchy red brown rash.

“If you have these symptoms, stay at home and phone your GP or NHS 111 for advice.”

Other measles symptoms to watch out for include aches and pains, swollen eyelids, sneezing, loss of appetite and general lack of energy.

The condition starts with cold-like symptoms, and develops into the measles rash after a couple of days, the NHS said.

Some people also develop small greyish-white spots in their mouth. Not everyone gets the spots if they have measles, but if you do develop them - as well as other symptoms - it;’s highly likely they have the condition.

Measles risk could be reduced by getting the MMR vaccine

You can prevent getting measles by avoiding anyone that’s been infected, or by getting the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine.

If you already have the virus, the best thing to do is to stay away from work or school for at least four days from when you first developed the measles rash.

Also, try to avoid contact with people who are most at risk of catching the virus, including young children and pregnant women.

Source: Express