An adult with a confirmed case of measles has died.
The HSE has said public health teams are taking all necessary steps following the death at a hospital in the Dublin and Midlands health region.
A HSE Measles National Incident Management Team had already been established in response to a recent rise in measles cases in Europe - particularly Romania, France and Austria - and in the UK.
In England, 170 cases were diagnosed between last December and mid-January.
The UK's Health Security Agency declared a national incident over the rising number of cases last month.
WHO warning
The Irish case is the first confirmed measles case notified this year and follows a World Health Organisation (WHO) warning of an 'alarming' rise in cases across Europe.
There were 42,200 measles cases across 41 member states in the WHO European region in 2023, the WHO said, up from 941 cases reported in all of 2022.
Concern has also been expressed at the low uptake of MMR vaccine, which has been below 90%, and the HSE is again urging adults and children to get vaccinated.
Vaccination rates are mixed across the country with south and west of Dublin at 94%, while in Louth and Meath the rate stands at 80%.
Symptoms
Measles is a highly contagious, serious airborne disease that can spread easily through respiratory droplets.
It spreads when an infected person breathes, coughs or sneezes. The disease can affect anyone but is most common in children.
Symptoms can include a high fever, cough, runny nose and a rash all over the body.
A person's chest with the small red-brown spots of a measles rash. Source: HSEThe 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
Anyone concerned is asked to contact their GP.
Last year Ireland had four cases linked to a single family event.
The WHO recommends children should receive two doses of the vaccine to ensure they are immune.
More information can be found here
Additional reporting: Teena Gates
