Measles vaccination strongly urged

[Posted: Tue 24/11/2009 by Joanne McCarthy]

Parents have been urged to ensure their children are vaccinated against measles following a national outbreak of the disease, which has left a child severely ill in hospital with pneumonia as a result of measles.
 
According to the HSE Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC), there are real concerns about spread among non-vaccinated individuals.
 
“Eleven cases have been reported to date in November, bringing the total to 75 so far this year. This compares to 50 for the same period in 2008.  Eighteen people have been hospitalised with measles this year and no deaths have been reported. One case has required intensive care treatment and ventilation for severe pneumonia,” said Dr Suzanne Cotter, HPSC specialist in public health medicine.
 
Most cases of the measles are in children under 10, and 30% of cases occur in children aged between one and two. A majority of cases this year have occurred among children from the Traveller community.
 
“Measles is highly infectious and can cause severe illness and occasionally cause death. An outbreak in 2000 resulted in more than 1600 cases and three deaths. As vaccination with the MMR is the only way to prevent measles infection, all parents must make sure their children have received the recommended two doses of the vaccine. While the first dose is usually given at 12 months of age by GPs and the second in school at 4-5 years of age, the vaccine can be received at any time,” said Dr Cotter.