Readers like you keep news free for everyone.
More than 5,000 readers have already pitched in to keep free access to The Journal.
For the price of one cup of coffee each week you can help keep paywalls away.
Shutterstock/kryzhov
# measles outbreak
Patient at the centre of measles outbreak was in Dublin Airport three weeks ago
33 cases are being investigated.
THE HSE SAYS that patients at the centre of a measles outbreak have been in the Kerry area and Dublin Airport in the last month.
The HSE Public Health Departments and the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) continue to investigate an outbreak of the illness in Kerry, which was first flagged in early May.
Outbreak control teams have been convened in HSE East, Northeast, South, Southeast and Midwest regions. As of this week, 33 cases have been confirmed nationally.
Most of those affected are under ten and 70% haven’t had their MMR vaccination. In a minority of these cases, it was because they were aged less than one year and were not due the vaccine until 12 months.
Dr Kevin Kelleher, a HSE Consultant in Public Health stressed that they wanted “to maintain public and clinician 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 our public health teams to be fully responsive and in a position to implement all necessary control measures.
Dr Kelleher says measles is “highly infectious, [but] if cases are isolated early, the risk of transmission to vulnerable individuals decreases”.
The HSE says it has identified the following areas as places where infected patients were in June. They include Ballheigue and Tralee in Kerry from 1 June to 15 June, Bunmahon in Tipperary on 5 June and Dublin Airport on 22 and 24 June.
Measles symptoms include:
- High fever
- Cough
- Runny nose
- Red eyes
- A red rash that starts on the head and spread down the body- this normally starts a few days after onset of illness
Those who develop symptoms should stay at home and phone their doctor, stopping visitors from coming to their house.
Read: Measles warning after second case confirmed this year
Read: Six infants diagnosed with measles as HSE investigates outbreak
