The Ireland Health Service Executive (HSE) has confirmed an outbreak of measles in north Dublin. Since the beginning of February, five cases, affecting adults and children, have been reported.

Dublin
Image/Robert Herriman

Dr. Ruth McDermott, Public Health Specialist said: “Measles can be a serious illness and is highly infectious.  The best protection is to be vaccinated with MMR (Measles, Mumps, and Rubella) vaccine”.

People at increased risk are those who have not been vaccinated with MMR vaccine or have not had measles in the past.  There is a risk of developing measles for up to 21 days after contact with a case of measles.

If you think you may have measles:

1.      Do not go to work, school or crèche or any congregate setting such as shopping centre/cinema, etc.

2.      Stay at home and phone your GP.  Tell the doctor or nurse that you think you might have measles.

3.      Stop visitors coming to the house to prevent the spread of measles.

4.      Pregnant women who have been exposed to measles should seek medical advice as soon as possible.