The Department of Public Health HSE-East, has been notified of 2 confirmed cases of measles in North Dublin City.  An Outbreak Control Team has been convened to investigate and control the spread of this potentially serious illness.  The source of measles has not yet been identified.  An alert has been sent to all Emergency Departments and General Practitioners (GPs) in Dublin, Kildare and Wicklow.  All people identified as contacts of the 2 measles cases are being notified and advised of the risk by Public Health.

Ireland map/CIA
Ireland map/CIA

The best protection against measles is to be fully vaccinated with 2 doses of the MMR (Measles-Mumps-Rubella) vaccine.

If you have symptoms suggestive of measles you should stay at home, not go to school or work and phone your GP and explain that you may have measles. People who have not been fully vaccinated with MMR vaccine or have not had measles in the past are at high risk of getting measles if exposed. Those most at risk of catching measles are those who are not fully vaccinated with 2 doses of MMR vaccine such as babies younger than 12 months who are too young to be vaccinated, and those with weakened immune systems.

Related: Measles in Europe: Nearly nine out of 10 cases reported were unvaccinated

Dr Deirdre Mulholland, Director of Public Health said “measles can be a serious illness and is highly contagious. The best protection is to be fully vaccinated with 2 doses of MMR vaccine.”

Measles is one of the most contagious of all infectious diseases; approximately 9 out of 10 susceptible persons with close contact to a measles patient will develop measles. The virus spreads when an infected person coughs or sneezes. The virus can live for up to 2 hours in the air or on surfaces.

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People with measles usually have a rash, high fever, cough, runny nose, and red, watery eyes. Some people also get an ear infection, diarrhea, or a serious lung infection such as pneumonia. Although severe cases are rare, measles can cause swelling of the brain and death.

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