Catherine Byrne (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I acknowledge the importance of vaccinations. The Deputy is right, in that not only children can be infected, but also adults. Unfortunately, people have died and will continue dying if outbreaks are allowed in any country.

Thanks to the increase in the MMR vaccination uptake rate in Ireland in the past decade, measles had become relatively rare. However, 43 cases were notified in 2016, the bulk of which were part of an outbreak associated with an imported case. In 2015, there were six measles cases, the lowest annual number reported since 1948 and a significant decrease on the 33 cases in 2014.

Yesterday, I met people from the Department of Health and the HSE to discuss the outbreak in the north inner city and Meath. I assure the Deputy that everything is being done on the ground and in the Department and the HSE to notify people of the risks associated with not getting their children the MMR vaccine. The public health awareness work of local GPs and district nurses has taken on board the alert issued by the Department and the HSE. We will continue to monitor the situation. I hope that, in the coming weeks and months, we will be able to identify the source of the outbreak and continue working with health care facilities and staff around the country to raise awareness of this deadly disease, particularly as it relates to young babies.

4 o’clock

I want to keep the Deputy informed of progress on a regular basis. As soon as I have more information, I will relay it to her.

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