HSE SOUTH’S public health department has urged parents to ensure their children are protected against measles following a recent outbreak of the illness, particularly among unvaccinated children, in Cork and Kerry.
Dr Fiona Ryan, consultant in public health medicine, HSE South is urging parents to bring their children for immunisation as soon as possible to prevent the spread of measles.
“The most important part of controlling an outbreak of measles is to ensure that there is a high level of immunity in the population. Measles can be prevented by immunisation with a highly effective vaccine that is part of the MMR [measles-mumps-rubella] immunisation.”
There has been a significant increase in measles cases in Ireland with 165 cases in 2009 compared to 55 for 2008. The increase has been even more noticeable in Cork and Kerry with 53 cases in 2009 compared to five in 2008.
Dr Ryan added that measles is highly infectious and can cause severe illness and occasionally death.
“As vaccination with the MMR is the only way to prevent measles infection, all parents must make sure their children have received the recommended two doses of the vaccine,” she added.