Pregnant teachers can apply for quarantine leave to avoid being exposed to a virus that causes the slapped cheek syndrome in children.

The concession was given by Education Minister Evarist Bartolo on expert medical advice and announced on Friday.

“I am worried about the slapped cheek syndrome in our schools,” Mr Bartolo wrote of the otherwise harmless virus that can, however, create complications for pregnant women.

The Malta Union of Teachers had called for quarantine leave to be granted to pregnant teachers after they were being given medical advice by their doctors to stay away from schools where children were infected.

Mr Bartolo said he took the advice of a medical expert in gynaecology who said it was better not to expose pregnant teachers to risks because one of a number of consequences could be miscarriage.

“Even if this rarely happened, such a risk should not be taken,” the minister said.

Depending on the stage of pregnancy, there is “a small risk” of miscarriage or complications for the baby including heart failure and anaemia, according to the UK’s National Health Service.

Most pregnant women who get slapped cheek syndrome have healthy babies.

Over the past months several cases of slapped cheek syndrome have been detected among schoolchildren. The main symptom, caused by parvovirus B19, is a blotchy red rash on the face – resembling slapped cheeks.