Measles outbreak reported in West Cork, so get your kids checked

The HSE South is urging parents to keep an eye on their kids and to get them vaccinated against measles, as there is currently an outbreak of the disease in Cork.

So far the disease is mainly affecting teenagers who have not been vaccinated against the disease. You might be wondering: ‘who hasn’t been jabbed with the MMR vaccine in this day and age’? Well, quite a few people apparently.

"Measles can be a serious and potentially fatal illness and children who have not been vaccinated are particularly at risk of measles during this time”, Dr Fiona Ryan, Specialist in Public Health Medicine with the HSE South told Irish Health.

Up to 25 cases of the disease have been reported over the past four weeks in West Cork and seeing as there wasn’t a single case of the disease in the first three months of the year, it’s safe to call it an outbreak.

It’s bad news for anyone who contracts the disease, but good news for their siblings as the HSE has recommended that siblings of those who have contracted the disease should spend a minimum of 14 out of school.

We wonder if that will work with your boss too? Probably not.

For more on measles and what to do if your own kid gets them, check out Irish Health.