Fears of outbreak as national measles cases this year rise to 13

Two outbreaks of measles have been reported in private homes, with seven people infected as a result of the virus being passed on, it has emerged.

It comes as the number of confirmed cases in Ireland has risen to 13. In addition to the confirmed cases, there are 19 cases currently under investigation for measles, according to the latest figures from the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC). 

It is likely one of the members of the household got the highly contagious infection and then transmitted it to others under the same roof.

Each suspected case of measles needs to be tested in a laboratory before being confirmed as measles or denotified. Several possible measles cases have been declassified in recent weeks.

A second outbreak led to three members of a household coming down with measles, signalling that cases are no longer just being spread by trips abroad but that the virus is circulating within the country. Public health experts aim to prevent the infection from gaining ground in the community, which would make it much more difficult to control.

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.

Symptoms include cold-like symptoms such as a runny nose, sneezing and a cough, as well as a high temperature, red eyes, and a rash.

A new MMR (measles, mumps and rubella vaccine) catch-up vaccination programme is being rolled out amid fears of a possible outbreak here.

Some 310,000 people will be eligible for the vaccine under the programme which is estimated to cost €4.6 million. The vaccines will be administered by GPs and HSE vaccination teams.

Under the new programme, children and young adults not already vaccinated will be prioritised for vaccination.