HSE issues urgent advice to Mayo parents over MMR vaccine
The warning is issued after an adult with a confirmed case of measles died in the Dublin and Midlands Health region.
The HSE is advising that children in Mayo who are not fully protected against measles should get the MMR vaccine prior to the mid-term break.
MMR uptake in Ireland is suboptimal and less than the 95% target set by the WHO.
Nationally, uptake has declined to below 90% since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic (early 2020).
In the Galway, Mayo and Roscommon region uptake is below target at 92.9%.
The HSE is also urging people to seek medical advice early in cases where measles is suspected, in order to minimise the spread of infection.
The warning is issued after an adult with a confirmed case of measles died in the Dublin and Midlands Health region.
It is the first confirmed measles case notified in Ireland this year, the HSE said.
Measles is a highly infectious disease that can cause serious complications, particularly in children aged under one, pregnant women and those who are immunosuppressed.
The signs and symptoms include:
Cold-like symptoms such as aches and pains, a runny nose, sneezing and a cough
Sore red eyes that may be sensitive to light
A temperature of 38C or above, which may reach around 40C
Small greyish-white spots in the mouth
Loss of appetite
Tiredness, irritability and a general lack of energy
Rash, which usually appears two to four days after the first symptoms on head and neck first, and spreads to the rest of the body
Speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland, Dr. Lucy Jessop, HSE National Immunisation Lead and Consultant in Public Health Medicine said early intervention in suspected cases of measles is effective in stopping the spread of infection.
"It is very important people seek medical advice early so we can take appropriate public health measures, so that we can control the spread of any further infections."
"This is our first case this year ... we do have very high awareness amongst our public health professionals, so they are very much keeping a watch."
The HSE are currently looking at options on how to increase the uptake of this vaccine, she added