Measles alert issued over travel to Europe during summer

DUBLIN, Ireland - After two cases of measles were confirmed in Dublin this week, families traveling to Europe for summer holidays have been alerted to get the right vaccination.

So far this year, authorities have said that measles has led to 31 deaths across Europe.

This week, Ireland’s Health Service Executive (HSE) diagnosed two cases, an adult and a child, who had returned to Dublin after being on mainland Europe.

Issuing the warning after confirming two cases in Dublin, the HSE has now urged people to be careful and have issued a statement asking people to be vigilant about measles.

In a statement, Dr Helena Murray, Specialist in Public Health Medicine said, “Measles can be a serious illness and is highly infectious. The best protection is to be fully vaccinated with two doses of MMR (Measles, Mumps, and Rubella) vaccine."

Further, the HSE has said that there is a possible risk of measles for people who might have been in the same healthcare setting as the two people during the most infectious period.

It warned that the two measles cases attended the emergency department at Tallaght Hospital on July 1, between the hours of 11.30am and 1.30pm, and on July 5, from the hours of 12am until 8am.

Then, on July 7, the two people also went to the Mater Hospital, from the hours of 11am until 8pm.

Further, on July 13, the two people were at the Children's University Hospital Temple Street, from the hours of 3pm until 8pm, and on July 15 and 16, from the hours of 5pm until 1am the following day.

On July 16, they were at Our Lady's Children's Hospital, Crumlin, from the hours of 12pm until 2.30pm.

The health department has urged people not to contact hospitals if they think they have come into contact with a case of measles, but to seek the advice of their GP instead.