A teenage boy from western Ireland has been diagnosed with measles, making it the second confirmed case in the State for this year. Earlier this year, a man from Mullingar fell victim to the infectious disease, having contracted it in Birmingham. Following his death last month, the Health Service Executive (HSE) announced that public health teams, in conjunction with the HSE Measles National Incident Management Team (IMT), are taking significant action in response to this incident.
Beyond these two cases, there are an additional 20 suspected cases of measles this year, including nine reported during the week ending March 2nd, with all the suspected patients being under the age of nine. In a bid to counteract the increase in UK and Europe measles cases, the HSE will be introducing a proactive MMR (Mumps, measles, rubella) vaccine catch-up scheme which aims to prioritise young adults, children, healthcare workers, besides refugees, protection-seekers, and people without homes.
The prevailing health guidance suggests that if you were born in Ireland prior to 1978, you’re likely to have encountered measles during childhood and hence may not need the MMR vaccine. However, Professor Breda Smyth, Chief Medical Officer, pointed out that herd immunity has not been achieved as MMR vaccination rates have slipped below the protective threshold of 90%. In her video message on the Department of Health X page, she highlighted the highly contagious nature of measles, stating that each infected individual could spread the disease to between 12 and 18 others.
Most vulnerable to the disease are unvaccinated children under a year, pregnant women, and those with suppressed immunity. Professor Smyth emphasized that herd immunity, which requires over 95% vaccination rate, protects against the disease. Following her exhortation that “Getting vaccinated protects our personal health, but also makes us team players. The MMR is a safe effective vaccine”, she lamented that the present vaccination rate in Ireland is inadequate to prevent the spread of measles.
Potential severe outcomes may encompass ailments such as ear infections, pneumonia, encephalitis or, even febrile seizures, and can result in death. Tune into our Inside Politics Podcast for the most recent discussions and insights. Register to receive notifications to get the top news, analysis, and commentary straight to your mobile device. Connect with The Irish Times via WhatsApp to stay in the loop.