Ireland’s health officials warn of ongoing measles outbreaks in Europe and UK, urging travellers to check MMR vaccination status ahead of Easter holidays
As thousands of people across Ireland prepare for Easter holidays, the HSE has issued an urgent alert regarding outbreaks of ‘one of the most infectious diseases’ in popular holiday hotspots . Health officials in Ireland have warned of ‘ongoing cases and recent outbreaks of measles in Europe and the UK’.
In a travel notice released last week, the HSE encouraged anyone heading abroad to learn about the signs and symptoms of measles and to check that their MMR vaccinations are up to date, reports the Irish Mirror . The HSE expressed concern over vaccination rates falling short of targets. A spokesperson explained: ‘Measles is a viral infection which can result in serious complications. It is highly infectious and can spread easily. ‘Latest data from Quarter 2, 2025 show that MMR uptake among children aged 24 months is 87.6%, which remains below the WHO target of 95% needed to prevent outbreaks. ‘As measles is one of the most infectious diseases, case numbers can increase quickly when vaccination coverage falls below this protective threshold. Maintaining high uptake is essential to safeguarding population health.’ The HSE has strongly advised anyone uncertain about their vaccination history to get in touch with their GP. They added: ‘The best way to protect yourself and those around you against measles and to prevent the spread of measles in Ireland is to ensure you and your family members are vaccinated against measles. ‘MMR vaccine is offered to all children in Ireland as part of the Primary Childhood and Schools Immunisation Programmes. Children are offered two doses of MMR vaccine at 12 months of age and in junior infants in primary school . ‘If you think you or your child are not up to date with MMR vaccines, vaccination can be arranged with your GP. MMR vaccine is available free of charge for individuals who are not age-appropriately vaccinated. In addition, infants aged 6 months to<12 months are eligible to receive an MMR vaccine, free of charge at their GP, prior to travel abroad. It is recommended that you receive this MMR vaccine at least 14 days prior to travel. 'If you live in Sligo , Leitrim or Donegal , MMR2 dose is given to children when they are aged 4-5 years by the GP.' The HSE has highlighted the importance of recognising measles' early warning signs, which typically emerge around 10 days following infection. A distinctive measles rash generally develops two to four days following these initial symptoms. It commonly starts on the head or neck before spreading across the body. The rash may appear flat or slightly raised, occasionally merging into larger blotchy areas. On white skin it presents as brown or red, whilst on darker skin tones it can be more difficult to detect. Mild itchiness may accompany the rash in some cases. Additionally, small grey-white spots may appear inside the mouth before the rash emerges. These spots typically persist for a few days. The HSE advised: 'If you think someone in your family has measles or has been in contact with measles, phone your doctor for advice. Keep the child or adult at home and avoid having visitors to your home unless they know they are protected against measles .' Want to see more of the stories you love from RSVP ? To add RSVP as a preferred source of news on Google, simply click here
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HSE Issues Urgent Measles Warning to Easter Holiday TravelersWith increased travel for Easter holidays, the HSE warns of measles outbreaks in popular tourist destinations and urges travelers to ensure they are vaccinated and aware of symptoms. The advisory highlights below-target MMR vaccination rates and emphasizes the importance of vaccination to prevent the spread of the highly infectious disease.
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