Passengers on a flight from Abu Dhabi to Dublin on Saturday are being asked to contact the HSE.
Officials have confirmed a case of measles was detected in a passenger who arrived into Dublin on Etihad Airways flight EY45 at 6:30am.
Passengers who may have symptoms or are in at-risk groups are being asked to contact their local HSE Department of Public Health or HSE Live on 1800 700 700.
Anyone who may be pregnant, immunocompromised or children under the age of 12-months are considered at greatest risk.
Northern Ireland's Public Health Agency has issued a similar appeal.
We are asking any Northern Ireland residents who were on Etihad Airways flight EY045 from Abu Dhabi to Dublin, which arrived in Dublin on Saturday 9 March 2024, to be aware of the symptoms of measles and importantly...
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👇 pic.twitter.com/3knefpM6Mu— Public Health Agency (@publichealthni) March 12, 2024
It is the third case of measles confirmed here this year.
Although there have been outbreaks across Europe, the number of people contracting the disease in Ireland has so far remained small.
Chief Medical Officer Breda Smyth has warned the disease could spread in Ireland if unvaccinated people do not avail of the vaccine catch-up programme.
“By having that 95% uptake of the vaccine, we are protecting the vulnerable in our population,” she told Newstalk.
“So, yes I am concerned about it, I would urge everyone to come out and if they are being invited to have a vaccine, to take up that offer.”
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has said around 95% of a population needs to be vaccinated against measles to achieve herd immunity.
The first symptoms of measles are:
- cold-like symptoms such as aches and pains, a runny nose, sneezing and a cough
- sore, red eyes that may be sensitive to light
- a temperature of 38C or above, which may reach around 40C
- small greyish-white spots in your mouth
- loss of appetite
- tiredness, irritability and a general lack of energy
