Sheffield Daily Telegraph – Wednesday 15 November 1950

Measles Epidemic Affects Schools

Mr E.B.Stockdale, Mexborough Divisional Education Officer, said at a meeting of Wath Primary School managers last night at a measles epidemic was seriously affecting school attendance throughout the area.

The divisional medical officer Doctor J Leiper, he said, and prophesied some months ago a widespread measles epidemic, and the prophecy had certainly come true.

In fact, it appeared to have come earlier than expected.

Doctor Leiper said in September before any cases were notified, that he had expected at least 1000 measles cases in his division, which comprises Mexborough, Conisbrough and Dearne, reaching a peak about Christmas.

Sent Circular

in an effort to prevent undue spread of the disease, a circular was sent to whole head teachers, asking that children were obviously unwell should be sent home.

It was stated last night that all was junior and infant schools at suffer a marked decrease in attendance the past month because of the epidemic.

Attendances at the schools in the Mexborough, Dearne, Rawmarsh, Swinton and Conisbrough districts was also affected. The Wath chairman said the epidemic was also having an adverse effect on attendance in other parts of the West riding