John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

406. To ask the Minister for Health the steps he is taking to avoid outbreaks of measles here; the further steps he is taking to avoid vaccine complacency and to increase the uptake of the measles, mumps, and rubella, MMR, vaccine in view of the recent outbreak of measles in many European countries and the rate of uptake of the MMR vaccine here remaining at 92%; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27922/18]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Measles is an acute and serious infection caused by the measles virus. Measles is highly infectious. It is a notifiable disease (under Infectious Disease legislation) and all cases are reported to Departments of Public Health for investigation and risk assessment.

Measles is transmitted through direct contact with an infected person or through the air when the infected person coughs or sneezes.  The incubation period (the time from exposure to the virus until the first symptoms develop) is typically 10-12 days. From exposure to rash onset averages 14 days (7-18 days). Complications include a severe cough and breathing difficulties (croup), ear infections (1 in 20), viral and bacterial lung infections (pneumonia), and eye infections (conjunctivitis). Most of the complications are caused by secondary bacterial infections, which can be treated with antibiotics. More serious problems involve the nervous system and are rarer. Severe disease and complications are most likely in infants under 12 months, those with weakened immune systems, and the malnourished.

All children, teenagers and young adults should be up to date with MMR vaccination. MMR was first introduced in 1988, all people born since then should have received two doses of MMR.   Any child, teenager or adult who missed getting the MMR vaccines according to national immunisation schedule (first dose at 12 months and 2nd dose at 4-5 years of age) should contact their GP and ask about the vaccine. The HSE is working hard in those areas of the country where MMR uptake is low and is also targeting marginalised groups where uptake of all vaccines has traditionally been low.

Awareness has been raised about the on-going risk of measles in the community among health care staff, as cases, if more occur, are likely to present to health care settings. For hospitals and health care facilities, it is important that there is an immediate triage and isolation of all suspect cases presenting to the facility as this can help prevent spread in the facility.

Due to increased MMR vaccination uptake in Ireland in the past decade measles has become relatively rare in recent years.  In 2015 there were 6 measles cases, the lowest annual number reported since 1948 and a significant decrease on the previous year. Since then the number of cases reported has increased due to a number outbreaks associated with imported cases in people who had not been vaccinated.  The Weekly Infectious Disease Report for week 24-2018 (10/6/18-16/6/18), published by the HSE-Health Protection Surveillance Centre on 20 June 2018, indicates that 63 cases of measles have been notified so far in 2018. The bulk of these are associated with an outbreak in the Mid-West, with linked cases elsewhere.

The HSE is taking actions to control this outbreak. An Outbreak Control Team meets weekly to investigate and control the spread of this potentially serious illness.  The HSE Departments of Public Health in areas where cases are identified are investigating and implementing control and communication measures with local GPs, and hospitals and in the community. The response has emphasised increasing uptake of the MMR vaccine which is the best method of preventing additional cases of measles.