The HSE is advising Donegal families considering visiting Wales and the North East of England to ensure that all family members have been immunised with the MMR vaccine to protect them against Measles.
Currently there are two large Measles outbreaks in the UK – Wales and North East England. In Wales over 50 children have been hospitalised from a total of over 600 cases and emergency MMR clinics have been swamped.
In the North East of England there have been almost 100 cases of measles. The outbreaks are due to low MMR vaccination uptake.
Dr Anthony Breslin, Specialist in Public Health Medicine in the North West, said “The outbreaks in the UK show the need for children to get their two MMR vaccines, the first at 13 months of age and the second prior to going to school.
“The MMR vaccine is safe and effective but we need to get all children immunised to prevent the serious effects of Measles which include deafness, brain damage and even death. Families planning to travel to the UK should ensure that they are protected.”
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