Parents being urged to get their kids an MMR shot as outbreak of measles spreads

Parents are being warned to get their children an MMR vaccine following the latest revelation that the outbreak of measles around the country was grown substantially in the last fortnight.

It was confirmed by the HSE at the beginning of May that there were two cases of measles being investigated in Ireland, but the number has since risen to 19. Of the 19 cases being look in to, 13 are confirmed contractions of measles, while the other six are deemed as highly probable. All 19 cases have been confirmed to have been contracted by people under 30.

Dr Kevin Kelleher, a public consultant in health, gave this advice. "Looking to raise public awareness around the signs and symptoms of the condition and ensure that anyone with concerns addresses them immediately in order to receive a rapid diagnosis.  This in turn allows the HSE HPSC Public Health teams to be fully responsive and in a position to implement all necessary control measures.”

Dr Kelleher stressed that “measles is highly infectious, and if cases are isolated early, the risk of transmission to vulnerable individuals decreases.  The time between exposure to the virus and developing measles rash is normally 14 days (range 7-21 days).  People are infectious from 4 days before rash starts until 4 days after.”