The HSE has confirmed a measles outbreak in Donegal. It is understood that seven cases of the measles have now been confirmed in the region.
Parents have been advised to keep their children out of school if they are suffering from the virus.
Ireland’s measles outbreak has worsened due to the decline in vaccination uptake. Health experts have expressed their concern about the increasing number of measles cases across Ireland.
They have stressed the importance of vaccinating your children against the illness as it can be extremely serious in some cases.
Doctors have also advised parents to vaccinate their children against the virus by getting the MMR vaccine.
The HSE is urging those who have not been vaccinated to get the MMR vaccine.
The first symptoms of measles are usually fever, runny nose, cough, and runny eyes.
The rash will appear a few days later usually starting on the face and neck and progressing to other parts of the body. In the beginning stages, the rash looks like red patches that are flat but soon begin to rise. Fever will climb and can become dangerously high.
There may be nausea, diarrhoea, and swollen lymph nodes as well. The rash is very itchy and will last about five days.
Complications can include ear infections, pneumonia, meningitis, encephalitis, and other brain-related illnesses.
It was previously claimed that the heightened prevalence of the disease is being attributed to the growing anti-vaccine movement.
