The Ireland Health Service Executive (HSE) reported Friday on two cases of measles in an adult and a child in Dublin who had recently been in mainland Europe and is asking people to be vigilant about measles.
Dr Helena Murray, Specialist in Public Health Medicine said, “Measles can be a serious illness and is highly infectious. The best protection is to be fully vaccinated with two doses of MMR (Measles, Mumps, and Rubella) vaccine”.
There is a possible risk of measles to people who may have been in the same healthcare setting as these two cases during the infectious period. People at increased risk are those who are not fully vaccinated with two doses of MMR vaccine or have not had measles in the past. The risk of measles is for up to 21 days after contact with a case of measles.
Currently the HSE is aware that the two measles cases attended the following healthcare settings while they were most infectious:
| Date | Time | Hospital Emergency Departments |
| 1st July | 11.30am-1.30pm | Tallaght University Hospital
Adult Emergency Department (ED) |
| 5th July | 12am-8am | Tallaght University Hospital
Adult ED |
| 7th July | 11am-8pm | Mater Misericordiae University Hospital |
| 13th July | 3pm and 8pm | Temple Street Children’s University Hospital |
| 15th – 16th July | 5pm-1am | Temple Street Children’s University Hospital |
| 16th July | 12pm-2.30pm | Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital Crumlin |
There are on-going outbreaks of measles in multiple countries in the European region and worldwide. Most of the cases in the EU in 2018 were reported from Romania, France, Greece, and Italy. Most people who get measles on holiday do not know they were exposed until they develop disease. Unrecognised exposures to measles have occurred at airports, on planes, at concerts, in shops and health care settings. In 2018, 31 deaths associated with measles have been reported in EU countries.
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Vaccination remains the most effective measure against infection. Children aged 6-11 months of age, travelling to other countries and regions where measles outbreaks are reported, are recommended MMR vaccine. A dose given before 12 months of age does not replace the dose that would normally be given at 12 months of age.
Older children should be age appropriately vaccinated. Children who have missed their recommended doses should get the MMR vaccine from their GP.
Adults may be at risk of measles, particularly those under 40 years of age who have never had measles or two doses of a measles vaccine.
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