Kim Roberts, PhD
@kimrobertsphd.bsky.social
Virologist, virology lecturer, Dublin Ireland, gets very excited when talking about viruses, has dyslexia. Opinions are my own.
If you think you/your child has measles call your GP for advice. If the GP needs to see you it will be outside/away from other patients to prevent onwards transmission.
April 3, 2025 at 11:25 AM
If you think you/your child has measles call your GP for advice. If the GP needs to see you it will be outside/away from other patients to prevent onwards transmission.
For measles virus herd immunity, that protects people who can't be vaccinated (under 12 months old etc), occurs when 95+% of people are fully vaccinated (2x MMR vaccine doses). MMR vaccine uptake in Ireland is about 88% so sporadic infections still occur. GPs can offer catch up MMR vaccines.
April 3, 2025 at 11:25 AM
For measles virus herd immunity, that protects people who can't be vaccinated (under 12 months old etc), occurs when 95+% of people are fully vaccinated (2x MMR vaccine doses). MMR vaccine uptake in Ireland is about 88% so sporadic infections still occur. GPs can offer catch up MMR vaccines.
Measles is a preventable disease. The MMR vaccine is effective and safe. The WHO estimates that between 2000-2023 the MMR vaccine prevented 60 million deaths globally. And yet we still get sporadic cases, and outbreaks due to under vaccination.
April 3, 2025 at 11:25 AM
Measles is a preventable disease. The MMR vaccine is effective and safe. The WHO estimates that between 2000-2023 the MMR vaccine prevented 60 million deaths globally. And yet we still get sporadic cases, and outbreaks due to under vaccination.
Measles can be transmitted through the air a few days before symptoms begin, and for a few days after the rash appears, which is why contact tracing is so important for limiting onwards transmission and measles outbreaks.
April 3, 2025 at 11:25 AM
Measles can be transmitted through the air a few days before symptoms begin, and for a few days after the rash appears, which is why contact tracing is so important for limiting onwards transmission and measles outbreaks.
Measles symptoms include fever (+38C), runny nose, cough, sore eyes. The rash appears a few days later. Symptoms start approx. 10 days after infection, but can be up to 3 weeks after infection, depending on how much virus a person breathed in (infectious dose).
April 3, 2025 at 11:25 AM
Measles symptoms include fever (+38C), runny nose, cough, sore eyes. The rash appears a few days later. Symptoms start approx. 10 days after infection, but can be up to 3 weeks after infection, depending on how much virus a person breathed in (infectious dose).
We get sporadic cases of measles in Ireland (36 cases in Jan-Mar 2025 ECDC), most are not reported in the media because close contacts can be identified. In this case, the person was on a train, making it harder to identify potentially exposed people, so a public alert was issued.
April 3, 2025 at 11:25 AM
We get sporadic cases of measles in Ireland (36 cases in Jan-Mar 2025 ECDC), most are not reported in the media because close contacts can be identified. In this case, the person was on a train, making it harder to identify potentially exposed people, so a public alert was issued.
People in that carriage for 15+ mins may have been exposed to measles virus. Measles is highly contagious, meaning it is easily transmitted through the air and can infect 9/10 close contacts who have a) not been infected before, b) not received 2 doses of the MMR vaccine. www.who.int/news-room/fa...
Measles
Measles remains one of the leading causes of death among young children globally, despite the availability of a safe and effective vaccine.
www.who.int
April 3, 2025 at 11:25 AM
People in that carriage for 15+ mins may have been exposed to measles virus. Measles is highly contagious, meaning it is easily transmitted through the air and can infect 9/10 close contacts who have a) not been infected before, b) not received 2 doses of the MMR vaccine. www.who.int/news-room/fa...
The HSE alert was to notify people that someone suspected of having measles (likely has symptoms and waiting for lab confirmation of diagnosis), was in carriage D of the Dublin to Sligo train that left Connolly at 17:05 on Friday 28th March. about.hse.ie/news/public-...
Urgent public health alert - possible exposure to measles
about.hse.ie
April 3, 2025 at 11:25 AM
The HSE alert was to notify people that someone suspected of having measles (likely has symptoms and waiting for lab confirmation of diagnosis), was in carriage D of the Dublin to Sligo train that left Connolly at 17:05 on Friday 28th March. about.hse.ie/news/public-...