Parents warned over 'highly contagious' scarlet fever amid ANOTHER outbreak at school in Greater Manchester

Parents have been told to look out for the symptoms of scarlet fever after another reported outbreak of the disease at a school in Greater Manchester.

The 'highly contagious', seasonal bacterial illness usually presents with a sore throat, fever, headaches, and a rosy rash that generally starts on a patient’s chest and mainly affects children. Cases usually peak between December and May.

On Wednesday, March 16, a primary school in Manchester alerted its parents to an outbreak . The letter from Bowker Vale Primary School followed 'a number of confirmed cases' in schools and nurseries across Wigan last week.

READ MORE:Parents urged to watch out for highly contagious scarlet fever amid confirmed cases in Wigan

The letter from Bowker Vale reads: "Dear families, we have been informed that a small number of children at Bowker Vale have been diagnosed with confirmed scarlet fever.

"Although scarlet fever is usually a mild illness, it should be treated with antibiotics to minimise the risk of complications and reduce the spread to others."

The letter then goes on to describe scarlet fever symptoms, adding that if you think you, or your child, has the disease, you should see your GP or contact NHS 111 as soon as possible; make sure that you/your child takes the full course of any antibiotics prescribed by the doctor; and to stay at home, away from nursery, school or work for at least 24 hours after starting the antibiotic treatment, to avoid spreading the infection."

A dad, whose child goes to Bowker Vale Primary School, was left terrified after his little one came home 'with no appetite' on Friday, March 11.

"I always thought it was quite an old, Victorian disease," he said, wishing to remain anonymous.

"My daughter started