930 Reported Cases of Measles So Far This Year

Published: June 19, 2000

NDSC Warns of Measles Epidemic: Protect Irish Children Against This Virulent Life-Threatening Infection

In welcoming the launch of the Department of Health and Children Public Education Vaccination Campaign, which will initially concentrate on measles, the NDSC again strongly urges all parents and carers to have their children vaccinated against measles. The MMR vaccine, which is free, can prevent measles in over 90% of cases. This vaccine is given by the GP to children aged 15 months and a second dose is now given at primary school at age 5-6 years. With the second dose over 99% of immunized children are protected from measles infection.

"So far (up to 10th June 2000) the Department of Health and Children has received notification of 930 cases of measles in comparison to only 148 cases in total in 1999 - 769 cases have been in the Eastern Health Board. Present vaccination uptake level against measles are as low as 70% to 75% in some parts of the country when they should be at least 95%. This is leaving Irish Children vulnerable to epidemics such as that which is occurring in the Eastern Health Board" commented Dr Darina O'Flanagan, Director of the NDSC.

Measles is an acute infection which usually occurs in children age 1-4 years of age who have not yet been vaccinated against it but it can also occur at any age. Measles is caught through direct contact with an infected person or through the air by coughing and sneezing. It is highly infectious before the rash appears.

Complications associated with measles include severe cough and breathing difficulties (croup), ear infections, viral and bacterial lung infection (pneumonia) and eye infections. Other more serious problems involve the nervous system and inflammation of the brain. Severe disease and complications are most likely in young children under 5 years and adults over 20 years. While complications are more common in those who are malnourished or those whose immune system is not working properly, it is important to realise that almost half of the deaths associated with measles occur in previously healthy children and young adults.

Editors Notes:
The Royal College of Physicians has recently changed the age of the second dose of MMR to 5-6 years. Previously children received the second dose at 11-12 years. The change in the timing of the second dose is intended to provide protection for the 5-10% of children who do not respond to the first dose.