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Health.jpg
THE HSE has been notified of two confirmed cases of measles in north Dublin city.
An outbreak control team was convened to investigate and control the spread of the potentially serious illness. The source of measles wasn’t immediately identified.
An alert has been sent to all hospital emergency departments and GPs in Dublin, Kildare and Wicklow. All people identified as contacts of the two measles cases are being notified and advised of the risk by public health officials.
“The best protection against measles is to be fully vaccinated with two doses of the MMR (Measles-Mumps-Rubella) vaccine,” a HSE spokesperson said.
“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 are those who are not fully vaccinated with two doses of MMR vaccine such as babies younger than 12 months who are too young to be vaccinated, and those with weakened immune systems.
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 two doses of MMR vaccine.”
Measles symptoms include a high fever, red eyes and a red rash that starts on head and spread down the body. This normally starts a few days after onset of illness. The rash consists of flat red or brown blotches, which can flow into each other. It lasts about 4-7 days.
The time between exposure to measles and developing the rash is usually 14 days (range 7-21 days). People are infectious from four days before rash starts until four days after.
