Measles in Wales and Europe
Over 900 cases of measles have been reported from Wales, particularly the Swansea area.
Updated information on the measles situation in Wales is available here.
If you are travelling to Wales, remember:
- Measles is one of the most infectious diseases known to man. Individuals without immunity to measles can be infected with measles without even knowing that they were in contact with somebody who was infectious (e.g. in a public area)
- Measles can be prevented by vaccination with the MMR vaccine. Children, adolescents and young adults travelling to Wales are strongly encouraged to make sure their MMR vaccines are up to date.
- All children need two doses of MMR vaccine; at 12-15 months and at age 4-5 years
- Older children and young adults who have not received at least two doses of MMR, or are unsure if they were vaccinated, should contact their GP for this vaccine.
- MMR was introduced into the Irish childhood immunisation schedule in 1988.
- If you have relatives or visitors from Wales with an illness that sounds like measles (fever, runny nose, cough, red eyes followed by rash about 2-4 days later) contact your GP immediately.
- To protect others, anyone who thinks that he or she has measles should stay at home and contact the GP by phone before going to the surgery. Always contact the GP and let the GP/nurse/secretary know that it might be measles. The GP will normally tell you to come at the end of the surgery time or to wait outside until everyone has left the surgery (this is to prevent transmitting the virus to others).
- Notification and diagnosis is important to prevent other people getting sick. Public Health follow up on all measles cases notified to them.
- Further details on measles can be found on the HPSC website at http://www.hpsc.ie/hpsc/A-Z/VaccinePreventable/Measles/
Or the National Immunisation Office at http://www.immunisation.ie/en/