The Health Protecion Surveillance Centre (HPSC) has been notified by the HSE Department of Public Health in Galway of a newly confirmed measles case imported from another European country.
They have stated that members of the public may have been unknowingly exposed to measles when a person carrying the illness travelled through the arrivals departments of Dublin airport (afternoon), and then on to Galway via private transport on the 18th of July.
If you, or anyone you know, travelled through the airport on the 18th, 22nd, or 24th of July, you should keep a close eye on the signs and symptoms. If worried, consult your GP.
Measles symptoms include:
- High fever
- Cough
- Runny nose
- Red eyes
- Red rash that starts on head and spread down the body – this normally starts a few days after onset of illness.
If anyone develops measles symptoms, they should:
- Stay at home and phone their GP
- Tell the doctor or nurse that they think they might have measles
- top visitors coming to the house to prevent spreading the infection
Recommendations:
- The best way to protect against measles is to get the MMR vaccine. Any adult born since 1978 should have received two doses to prevent Measles.
- All children should get MMR at 12 months of age and the second dose at 4-5 years of age.
- Any child who missed their scheduled MMR vaccine dose should contact their GP to get the age appropriate dose
- Being up-to-date on vaccinations before travel is as important as passport, ticket and money
Dr Kevin Kelleher, Consultant in Public Health said; “measles is highly infectious, and if cases are isolated early, the risk of transmission to vulnerable individuals decreases. The time between exposure to the virus and developing measles rash is normally 14 days (range 7-21 days). People are infectious from 4 days before rash starts until 4 days after.”
People who are fully vaccinated with two doses of MMR vaccine are normally protected. 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.
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