Passengers on board a flight arriving at Dublin Airport over the weekend are at a “significant risk” of catching measles, DCU professor Anthony Staines has warned.
The HSE has appealed for anyone onboard flight EY45 that departed Abu Dhabi for Dublin at 6.30am on March 9th to come forward after someone with a confirmed case of measles was on board.
Officials are particularly concerned for people who are pregnant, immunocompromised or had a young baby with them.
Three cases of measles have now been reported in Ireland this year, including one case that led to the death of a man in the Midlands.
Worrying
DCU public health professor Dr Anthony Staines said the latest case is worrying.
“There is a significant number of deaths from measles every year in countries where the disease is not controlled,” he told Newstalk Breakfast.
“It is very infectious and that’s why the HSE is worried.
“There is a significant risk to anyone on that plane who was not fully vaccinated against it.”
A child gets a vaccine. Image: Alamy.comProf Staines said measles is a “vaccine-preventable disease”.
“We haven’t seen many cases for a long time because of vaccines,” he said.
“We find now, when it comes back, it affects adults and children and has a significant range of complications – people feel quite unwell with it.
“But we can stop it in its tracks with vaccination.”
Dr Staines said the disease can lead to “major complications” such as pneumonia and inflammation of the brain.
Vaccine campaign
He also called for more people to get the vaccine.
“We really want to push it for anyone under the age of 50 who is unlikely to ever have had measles,” said Prof Staines.
“The HSE is bringing in a catchment vaccine campaign and it is really important that people get vaccinated and get their children vaccinated.
“The vaccine rates among children are not high enough yet but we can do this.”
Symptoms of measles can include aches, pains, a runny nose or sneezing.
Main image: An Etihad Airways flight. Image: David Gowans / Alamy Stock Photo
