An adult Passes away in a Hospital after Acquiring Measles in Ireland

Tragically, an adult who had contracted measles has passed away in a hospital in Ireland, according to the country’s Health Service Executive (HSE).

This is the first confirmed case of measles in Ireland this year.

In different years, the number of measles cases varied, with no reported deaths, according to the HSE.

Amidst falling vaccination rates, health officials across Europe and the UK are sounding the alarm about rising cases.

An adult passed away in a hospital within the Dublin and Midlands health region, which encompasses the Leinster province. The Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) of the HSE has been notified.

The Public health teams and the Measles National Incident Management Team (IMT) have stated that they are implementing all required public health measures regarding the case.

Ireland’s Chief Medical Officer Professor Breda Smyth expressed deep concern over the potential for a measles outbreak in the country. She emphasised the importance of individuals getting vaccinated against measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR).

In a video shared on social media on Thursday, which was originally posted last month, Prof Smyth highlighted the concerning decline in vaccination levels across the country. Nationally, the vaccination rate has dropped below 90%, with some Irish counties experiencing rates below 80%.

According to her, in order to prevent the disease from spreading, a vaccination rate of about 95% among the population is necessary.

According to the HPSC, the majority of measles cases in Ireland since 2020 have been linked to recent travel to countries experiencing outbreaks.

Measles is a highly contagious disease that can be serious at any age, as it is easily spread through coughs and sneezes.

Typically, the symptoms begin with a fever and a rash, which usually resolves within 10 days. However, there can be serious complications such as pneumonia, meningitis, blindness, and seizures.

Last year, the World Health Organisation (WHO) reported a significant surge in measles cases in Europe, with a nearly 45-fold increase.

In 2023, the number of people infected skyrocketed to 42,200, a significant increase compared to the 941 cases reported in the entirety of 2022.

The MMR vaccine is typically administered in two doses, with the first dose given around the age of one and the second dose administered when a child is approximately three years and four months old.

According to the WHO, the increase in cases is attributed to a decline in childhood vaccinations during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The first dose of the MMR vaccine saw a decline in vaccination rates across Europe, dropping from 96% in 2019 to 93% in 2022. The percentage of people receiving the second dose slightly decreased from 92% to 91% during that time.

During those two years, over 1.8 million children in Europe missed out on receiving a measles vaccination due to a slight decrease in vaccination rates.

“Vaccination is crucial for safeguarding children from this potentially harmful disease,” stated Dr. Hans Kluge, the regional director at the WHO, in December.

There has been an increase in suspected cases of the disease in England as well.

Last week, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) expressed ongoing concern about a measles outbreak in the West Midlands.