HEALTH chiefs have issued an urgent measles alert after confirming a case of the serious infection on a Dublin Airport bus. The warning from the HSE is for people who travelled on JJ Kavanagh bus number 717 from Dublin Airport to Clonmel departing at 4pm last Saturday, August 17. All passengers on the bus are urged to be aware of signs and symptoms of measles for the next two to three weeks.
Measles is a highly contagious illness most commonly recognised by red spots or a rash. The Department of Public Health HSE Dublin and South East took to X, formerly Twitter , to urge those who travelled on the bus to watch out for any potential symptoms. They said: "For any passenger on this bus journey who is a pregnant woman, immunocompromised, or under the age of 12-months-old please immediately contact your GP or hospital clinician for advice.
"This is because immediate treatment may be beneficial. "Be aware of signs & symptoms of measles for the next two to three weeks which include cold-like symptoms such as a runny nose, sneezing and a cough, sore red eyes, a temperature of 38 degrees Celsius or above, rash, which usually appears on head & neck first and spreads to rest of body." Measles spreads to those in close contact with an infected person through coughing and sneezing.
The HSE have warned if you have any symptoms, you should stay at home in a separate room and seek healthcare advice. They added: "Important to phone ahead prior to attending any healthcare setting to let them know that you have these symptoms, and were exposed to measles, so they can make necessary arrangements." According to the Health Protection Surveillance Centre , the condition affects pregnant women , young people and those with immunity issues more severely.
The HPSC explain: "Measles can cause chest infections, fits, ear infections, swelling of the brain and brain damage. "Measles is worst for children under one year of age, pregnant women, and people with poor immunity." These conditions can lead to problems such as meningitis, hearing loss and issues during pregnancy .
The Health Service Executive advises that two doses of the MMR provide the best protection. In Ireland, the MMR jab is part of the childhood vaccination schedule where babies get one dose at the GP when they are 12-months-old and a second at school when they are aged four to five. Health chiefs also urge families to chat with their GP about catch-up doses if any of the vaccines were missed.
Anyone who has not had two doses of the jab can still get it; however, if you were born in Ireland before 1978, you are unlikely to need the jab. There have been 155 confirmed measles cases in Ireland this year - with 16 cases being laboratory-confirmed. ASIDE from the childhood vaccination schedule, the HSE has said it is important to get the MMR vaccine if you: Health chiefs also state that it will not harm you to have the MMR vaccine again - if you can not find your vaccination records.
