A PERSON WITH an infectious case of measles travelled to Dublin and then onto Galway earlier this month.
The HSE confirmed today that it had been notified by the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) of the new case of the disease which was imported from another European country.
The person came to Dublin by air on 18 July while the case was infectious (they did not know they had it at the time).
They then travelled from Dublin to Galway by private transport. They were diagnosed while there with lab tests confirming a measles infection.
The airline has been contacted by the HSPC to ask it to inform all fellow passengers on the flight about their possible exposure to measles.
“The alert includes information on signs and symptoms of measles, advice to seek medical attention if they develop measles-like illness and how to prevent spreading the infection to others (by staying at home if ill and contacting GP by phone to arrange consultation so that others are not exposed to measles unnecessarily),” the HSPC said in a statement.
The health watchdog also warned of a risk to other members of the public who may have been unknowingly exposed to measles when this case passed through Dublin airport upon arrival on the afternoon of 18 July.
Dr Kevin Kelleher, consultant in public health, reminded the public and clinicians that measles can occur among non-immune individuals without recognised exposure to measles.
“Measles is highly infectious, and if cases are isolated early, the risk of transmission to vulnerable individuals decreases,” he said.
The time between exposure to the virus and developing measles rash is normally 14 days (range 7-21 days). People are infectious from four days before the rash starts until four days after.
“Those most at risk are those who are not fully vaccinated with two doses of MMR, babies (younger than 12 months and too young to be vaccinated as part of routine programme), non-immune pregnant women, and those with weakened immune systems if exposed.”
People who are fully vaccinated with two doses of the MMR vaccine are normally protected.
This case is unrelated to the recently reported outbreak that resulted in 34 confirmed measles cases between April and mid-July.
Measles symptoms include high fever, cough, runny nose, red eyes and a red rash that starts at the head and spreads down the body.
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