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NINE SUSPECTED MEASLES cases have been reported in Ireland as of 3 February.
The figures are included in the latest report by the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC).
These cases are currently under investigation and need to be tested in a laboratory before being confirmed as measles.
Seven of these cases have been defined as ‘possible’ measles, while two are listed as ‘probable’ measles.
The suspected cases, all involving children aged nine and younger, were reported between 28 January and 3 February.
Two or more cases of measles are classed as an outbreak.
Yesterday it was confirmed that a man in Leinster died after contracting measles – the first measles death in Ireland in over 20 years.
According to the HPSC figures, the breakdown of the suspected cases is as follows:
Seven of the reported cases are in children aged four years or younger, and two cases are in children aged five to nine years.
Five cases were among boys, two were among girls, and the gender in the other two cases is listed as ‘unknown’ or ‘not specified’.
The man who died is the only confirmed case of measles in Ireland to date this year.
There have been relatively few confirmed cases of the disease in Ireland in recent years.
There were four confirmed cases in 2023, two confirmed cases in 2022, no cases were confirmed in 2021, and five cases were confirmed in 2020.
No deaths were reported in any of those years.
Amid a large increase in cases in Europe and a decline in vaccination rates, the HSE has recently been warning of a potential outbreak here.
A taskforce has been set up to monitor and respond to the situation.
There was a nearly 45-fold increase in measles cases in Europe last year, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO). Around 42,200 people were infected with the disease in 2023, compared with 941 during 2022.
What is measles?
Measles is a highly infectious viral illness. It typically starts with cold-like symptoms that develop about 10 days after a person gets infected. The person will get a rash a few days later.
The illness usually lasts for seven to 10 days.
What are the symptoms?
Many people with measles also develop small greyish-white spots in their mouths. These appear before the rash and usually last for a few days. A rash appears around two to four days after the first symptoms. It fades after about a week.
If you have these symptoms, you should seek medical advice. People are advised to phone prior to attending their GP, Emergency Department or other healthcare provider to inform them they have these symptoms.
People should also alert medical staff if they have been in contact with someone who has measles or if they have recently travelled to an area where there is a measles outbreak.
MMR vaccines
The MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccination is the best way to protect people from measles.
Two doses of the MMR vaccine are necessary to be considered fully vaccinated. The first dose is given by a GP when a child is 12 months of age.
The second dose is generally given by school vaccination teams when the child is in junior infants.
Parents are encouraged to check that their children’s vaccines are up-to-date. If their child has missed either or both of their MMR vaccines, you are advised to contact your GP practice to arrange a catch-up vaccine.
Uptake of both doses of MMR vaccine has been below 90% in Ireland for some time – lower than the recommended level of 95% – which is “of great concern because of the serious and infectious nature of measles”, the HSE said.
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Just got the highest electricity bill since the start of the inflation, though usage lower than year before.
@GoodBrother: Haven’t used any Gas since February yet the standing charge may aswell say i was …disgraceful
@Trent: Roughly a euro per day. No usage and still the bill is €60+. Before C-19 my gas bill used to be about €45 – 50 all in.
@GoodBrother: Really. Inflation has been creeping up for well over a year now, nearly 2. Unless you used zero electricity until this bill, or were locked into a really low tariff for almost 2 years, then I do not believe this is your highest bill since inflation started to rise.
@GoodBrother: I got probably one of my lowest one,since the smart meter went in my bills are going down,I can see what is driving my bill.
We are now the most expensive country in Europe to live in. I never imagined we’d be more pricey than Switzerland or Norway. Thank you, FFG. Also on track to become the most obese.14 million each day for our national debt of $250 billion. Third-world heat care systems. the capital’s inner city is rife with violence and drugs. As a country, we are regressing.
Worked hard all my life as a chef to save enough for my own buisness watching it all dwindled away look after there own big hotels cashing in a fortune on migrants while the small tourists buisness get a slap on the face .
There is no end to being RIP of Ireland
@Paul Maguire: unless you are a dole merchant, then you get everything paid for ,
@James Moylan: Said the Kerry man to the bull.
Stop voting FF/FG ye thick muppets, let SF in, we need a change..but in all fairness this open door my documents, come in my friends has to stop. I was walking around Ennis, Co Clare the other, For a bit I thought I was in the suburbs of Mogadishu, only the rip off cost of a pint and newspaper brought me back to drizzleville.
@will o bdee: The shiners will be the same, they will be forced to stay in line, easy to promise the Earth in opposition, but it will either be business as usual or populist policies will lead to medium to long term problems. either way, I cannot see it SF doing any better than the current shower of tool bags.
Mortgage through the roof. Extra 600 a month meant pulling kids outa 3rd level education…
@Monty Carlow: Go on the dole and get mortgage paid by state, medical card, plus many more perks including grants for third level etc. etc.
@paulinlavally@gmail.com: It was the Bankers and Developers that collapsed the Irish economy.
Greed rife at the moment. Could list crisis after crisis but I can’t be bothered
But yeah it was the guy on the dole.
Look up lad.
@Monty Carlow: get them to learn Ukrainian or Arabic ,free everything from then on
@Monty Carlow: do a deal with the bank and keep your kids in 3rd level. Education is the key to a decent job
@Monty Carlow: Must be a big mortgage,mine is going up €38 a month in September,hope you’re kids are working to help with college.
@Monty Carlow: go to the docks near customs during the night,row out some,rip up you’re passport row in early morning,say you’ve amnesia or lost you’re passport rowing,they’re lost on flights available when they’re boarding, lost when landing it’s amazing in a completely sealed aircraft how it can happen shouldn’t be hard to understand in a boat I’d imagine…
In who’s opinion? absolute rubbish,it’s through the roof and slowly but surely rising in different segments be it food, electricity and fuel which will again increase in october,perfect timing when kids go back to school and cold weather kicks in and people need heating oil which they’ve been putting off keeping they’re heads above water at present and we might get help with more money from government, what money? it’s all going up again they’ve said it already the payment won’t outway the cost to the average person we lose again.
Tighten your belts. Store tins of beans. This is the peak.
That’s complete media tripe. Are you trying to feed people carrots on sticks
Buy less
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