Doctors in Cork on ‘high alert’ for potential measles outbreaks

Healthcare professionals in Cork are “on high alert” for potential measles outbreaks.

It comes amid concerns over a resurgence in measles in the UK.

Earlier this week, the HSE Health Protection Surveillance Centre said it had been notified of the death of an adult with confirmed measles, which took place in a hospital in the Dublin and Midlands health region. This was the first confirmed measles case notified in Ireland in 2024.

While there had not been any confirmed measles cases in Cork as of yesterday afternoon, Peter Barrett, a specialist in public health medicine in the Department of Public Health in Cork said that news of the confirmed case nationally was “concerning”, explaining “it’s a really contagious disease so there is the potential to spread it to a large number of contacts”.

He said that the Department of Public Health is currently undertaking contact tracing to try and track down anyone who might have been exposed to the disease, “but it is highly likely” that more cases will arise.

“On average, one case can spread infection to between 12 and 15 unvaccinated individuals,” he said.

“There were large outbreaks of measles in the early 2000s, at the start of this century, and there were some deaths associated with them, but because for the last 20 years or so, while we have seen cases, they have occurred in smaller numbers, there’s an element of complacency around measles and the risks it can pose,” he added.

Areas of most concern

Mr Barrett said there is particular concern around the spread of measles to younger children and those in the 18-24 age group.

The MMR vaccine is routinely given at 12 months and in junior infants, but during the pandemic, a lot of people missed out on these doses, due to reluctance to go to a healthcare setting, with Dr Barrett explaining “there’s a pool of vulnerable children out there” as a result of this.

He advised parents to check their vaccine handbook or make contact with their GP practice to see if they are vaccinated, and to make arrangements if not to receive the vaccine.

He said older children, teenagers and young adults can still avail of the MMR vaccine if they are not up to date with their vaccinations.

“People born before 1978 in Ireland are likely to have natural immunity against measles, and we’re not concerned about those who have availed of their vaccines,” Dr Barrett said.

People who have received two doses are at an “extremely low risk” of catching measles, and if they did it would be less severe, he said.

Key messages 

Dr Barrett explained that most who contract measles will develop symptoms like a cough, runny nose, red eyes, a high temperature and a rash which often starts on the face and neck then moves down, saying “most people who get it will do fine and manage it well at home”.

However, for a minority of people, they can develop complications such as severe middle ear infections, pneumonia, seizures, and even less commonly, there is a potential to develop meningitis.

“Rarely, it can lead to death, which is why we’re always concerned, a small number of people can get these quite serious complications,” Dr Barrett said.

Mr Barrett shared two messages for the public. 

“For anyone who has availed of their routine childhood immunisation, they don’t need to be overly concerned – we are trying to appeal to those who might have missed out for any reason.

“If anyone is concerned they might be showing measles symptoms, it’s really important to phone ahead to your GP before attending, in order to give the setting the opportunity to ensure isolation measures are in place”, as you can spread it to other vulnerable people without intending to, he said.