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TWENTY MEASLES CASES have been confirmed in Ireland to date this year, according to the latest figures from the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC).
Three outbreaks – where two or more confirmed cases are related – have occurred so far in 2024.
These three outbreaks all occurred in private houses and involved four cases, three cases, and two cases respectively.
In addition to the 20 confirmed cases, a further 13 probable or possible cases are currently under investigation.
Each suspected case of measles needs to be tested in a laboratory before being confirmed as measles or denotified. Several possible measles cases have been declassified in recent weeks.
Measles is a highly infectious disease that can cause serious complications, particularly in children under one year of age, pregnant women, and the immunosuppressed.
It typically starts with cold-like symptoms that develop about 10 days after a person gets infected. The person will get a rash a few days later.
Symptoms include:
The illness usually lasts for seven to 10 days. You can read more in our explainer on the disease here.
A new MMR (measles, mumps and rubella vaccine) catch-up vaccination programme has been rolled out amid fears of a possible outbreak here.
Some 310,000 people will be eligible for the vaccine under the programme which is estimated to cost €4.6 million. The vaccines will be administered by GPs and HSE vaccination teams.
Under the new programme, children and young adults not already vaccinated will be prioritised for vaccination.
The next priority group will be healthcare workers, followed by underserved groups such as homeless people, refugees and international protection applicants.
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Spain 24% Excessive
Finland 118% unconscionable
Ireland 287% Typical
@John Murray: but the country’s run by people who act like these loan sharks….
@Dave Walsh: give a man a gun he’ll rob a bank, give a man a bank he’ll rob the world!!
@John Murray: UK 1000%+
Instead of or combined with banning a solution to a problem we need to tackle the source of the problem. Educate. Ban all forms of credit gambling, paddy power is treated like some kind of Irish hero, the company is preying on the vulnerable, I don’t have the figures but I suggest that 50% of young male suicide is debt related and a huge part of that is gambling.
@Gerard Jennings: education on personal finances doesn’t put food on tables of those with no incomes. Yes, we should improve financial literacy in the country but it won’t solve the problem of desperate people making expensive choices.
@Dara O’Brien: Education on personal finances stops people getting in to desperate situations.
@John Horan: Not really, anything can happen tomorrow that people wouldn’t have planned for so education isn’t always the answer.
These companies need to be replaced by legit ones so people who need money quick can be provided it without the risk of getting knee capped by some of these.
@Mark McDermott: No…financial planning and education gives you the knowledge on how to budget so that you are prepared for emergencies. Of course not all can be planned for but education will help with most of them. On a basic level think Christmas clubs were you pre save rather than going to a money lender in December and paying back more than you borrowed.
@John Horan: which is all very well. However , Mark make the good point, that the people who tend to need these loans are coming from a place where they are not in a position to save up reserves. They have nothing to plan with, if they need to drive it’s fiver to fiver, last Christmas is still being paid off and so the cycle goes. Breaking the strangle hold of door lenders would help create the space you talk about.
If you watch some of these lending adds some of the intrest rates are 1000+ for the short term loans. Why would anyone want to pay or have the means to pay 1000 +intrest on a short term loan. I’m talking about the adds which are showing shower not working or car broken down. The next pay day loans
@bings: they pay because they have to or believe they have to.
There will always be a market for gouging moneylenders unless credit is made available to those in lower socioeconomic classes. People will always borrow for Christmas, birthdays, communions etc rather than having nothing to give children and loved ones etc.
Micro-finance may be available through the credit unions and whilst they are more flexible in lending practice than banks, their credit assessment still excludes those in the lowest income brackets.
Some form of community banking initiative is needed or rates of 200% plus will just continue – bam them and the illegal sharks just move in
Ban this, ban that, people need to take responsibility for their actions.
@The Bull McCabe: True. But when they don’t, who has to pick up the pieces? We do.
So what were The Labour Party actually doing in Government. They’ll be all over this like a rash now but were they asleep for 5 years.
On the face of it payday lending should be banned. However a little research and you might change your mind when you see what happens when they are banned. http://freakonomics.com/podcast/payday-loans/
In short if we cut the rates they can charge the payday lenders shut down as it is not profitable. Keep in mind the administration cost of a 100 EUR loan is the same as as 10,000 EUR loan. Those administration costs result in a higher interest rate on small loans. If we ban payday lenders what are the alternatives? Don’t say credit unions…they won’t lend you 100 EUR in 15 minutes, which is what some people require. think about what people will do to get the money if there are no payday lenders
They provide a service, banks are not going to lend to anyone without an income or give them a credit card, companies like provident unfortunately are necessary .
@Mrs M: or we address the problems which makes them necessary
@Breandán O Conchúir: No employment , bad credit history, inability to put by a few quid each week for events, is the main reasons I guess. I would also go out on a limb and say the foreign holidays for the chronic lazy is a big part of Thier business.
I would also suggest when somebody loses a job and has to sign on for a period they are not kept waiting 6-8 weeks for a claim to come through
A complete change of attitude from the government on middle and low income families would stop a lot of these problems. Ireland is a place for the rich and working class must leave to get the breaks to be able to afford to return
@stephen byrne: Ireland is not a place for the rich…the punitive tax regime means the rich are not tax residents.
How’s it even allowed in the first places is beyond me
@James O’Brien: Must be a few boys in the dail with their finger in it.
Ban the nanny state
People who are barred from credit unions will always go for what they need. they just want money up front.
Moneylenders typically charge around 25% paying back a loan,
this is an incredibly biased article; promoting credit unions and villainising moneylenders
Moneylenders are regulated by the central bank of Ireland to ensure they dont charge excessive rates.
isn’t this why we have credit unions? so people don’t have to go to money lenders.
Before we had credit unions this kid of dept was common how is it still a thing when cheap loans from member owned credit unions are available
Christianity forbid interest bearing loans . Moslem still do if we did have Islamic banking it take share in profits . but borrowings is still spending money you don’t have now
No, it is well past time
4000 grand limit on credit card is way to go :) stay away from money lenders . Credit cards can be dodgy but it’s all about managing it properly
It’s criminal – even credit cards over 20% are illegal unless they can prove otherwise
No interest
It is time to stop this
have your say