Irish parents are advised to be cautious after The Health Service Executive (HSE) confirmed an outbreak of measles in north Dublin.
The current outbreak is affecting both adults and children, has resulted in five infections since the start of February.
Dr. Ruth McDermott, Public Health Specialist says: “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 include 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.
Symptoms include:
- Fever
- Red rash
- Red eyes
- Cough
- A runny nose
If you think you may have measles, you're advised to stay at home and phone your GP for advice.
People who are sick should not attend settings such as crèche, school, work or religious gatherings until they have recovered from illness.
