Urgent HSE holiday warning as outbreaks surge in popular tourist destinations
With summer holiday season just around the corner, the HSE has issued an urgent warning for Irish travellers amid a worrying surge in measles outbreaks across many popular tourist destinations.
With cases reported not only in several European countries, but also North America and parts of Asia, the HSE says it is "concerned that measles outbreaks may occur in Ireland this summer".
Measles - one of the most highly contagious diseases - continues to "spread rapidly among individuals who are unvaccinated". Some of the countries experiencing significant outbreaks include many top holiday spots, prompting Ireland's health officials to urge travellers to make sure their vaccinations are up to date before jetting off.
The HSE strongly advises all travellers, especially families with young children, to check their vaccination status and get the MMR vaccine if necessary. A spokesperson said: "The best way to protect you and your family against measles is to ensure all family members are up to date with the recommended doses of MMR vaccine before travelling abroad.
"MMR vaccine is available free of charge at your GP for individuals born on or after January 1st 1978 who are not age-appropriately vaccinated. In addition, infants aged 6 months to under 12 months are eligible to receive an MMR vaccine, free of charge at their GP, prior to travel abroad. It is recommended that individuals receive MMR vaccine at least 14 days prior to travel.
"HSE recommends that all people who are eligible for MMR vaccination should be vaccinated, regardless of whether planning on travel abroad or not."
The warning comes as "large outbreaks" of measles cases have been reported across Europe. In the latest measles report from ECDC the highest number of cases were reported in France, Spain, Romania, Netherlands and Belgium. Large numbers of cases have also been reported in the USA, Canada and some countries in Asia - including Vietnam, Cambodia and the Philippines.
The HSE says that measles starts with cold-like symptoms around 10 days after you get infected. The first symptoms are:
You get a measles rash a few days later. The rash appears around two to four days after your first symptoms. It fades after around a week. It usually starts on your head or neck and then spreads outwards to the rest of your body.
The rash can be flat or slightly raised and join together into large blotchy patches. It looks brown or red on white skin. It may be harder to see on brown and black skin. The rash is slightly itchy for some people. You will feel most ill on the first or second day after you get the rash.
Some people also get small grey-white spots in their mouth. Not everyone with measles has these spots. The spots usually appear before the measles rash. If you have these spots and other symptoms or a rash, it's very likely you have measles. The spots usually last for a few days.
Measles spreads when an infected person coughs or sneezes. There are things you can do to reduce the risk of spreading it. The HSE said: "Tell your child's school or childcare if your child has measles. Children in your child's group or class may need to get the MMR vaccine. Do not go to work, school or childcare until at least four days after you first got the measles rash. Avoid contact with young children, pregnant women and people who have a weak immune system."
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
RTÉ News
an hour ago
- RTÉ News
Behind the Story: Saipan the movie and what next for Iran?
It was an event that divided the country: Roy Keane headed home from Saipan on the eve of the 2002 FIFA World Cup. Following a public exchange of words with then-manager Mick McCarthy, the Corkonian decided enough was enough. Now a new film from the producers of Kneecap and Cocaine Bear will tell the contentious tale of what went on in one of the most-talked-about moments in recent Irish sporting history. The trailer, which dropped today, includes the tagline 'Choose your side'. But what side are Fran and Katie on? Also, major changes are on the way for Irish students hoping to head stateside for the summer. It means those applying for an F, M, or J non-immigrant visa will have to set all their social media accounts to 'public'. Exchange visitor - or J - visas are non-immigrant visas for people to participate in exchange visitor programs in the United States. This includes J1 visas for Irish students. Other J categories include things like au pair work, interning and summer work and travel. Meanwhile what is next for Iran and could the conflict with Israel see a major geopolitical shift after US involvement? Graham Finlay from the UCD School of Politics and International Relations joins Fran and Katie to discuss what it could mean for us all.
Irish Daily Mirror
3 hours ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
Irish news site accidentally sends readers to X-rated adult website
A local Irish news site gave followers a shock when a brief hack on their page led to a link being posted for an X-rated website. On Sunday, Dublin based local newspaper Skerries News shared a post on their social media wishing athletes good luck in Sunday's Skerries Triathlon, alongside a map of the route. The post read: 'Good luck to all participating athletes in the Skerries Triathlon today. The temporary road closures are now in place. The cycle route goes along Balbriggan Road. For full details see link'. But the link didn't direct back to Skerries News, instead it was a link to an adult video on Pornhub. Skerries News were quick to set the record straight, telling followers on Monday that a 'rogue extension briefly hijacked' their link. They wrote on social media: 'Well, that escalated quickly… Ok, so we were hacked — and it's gone viral. But hey ho. Just another day at your favourite local newspaper. 'To the tens of thousands of you who very enthusiastically clicked our link yesterday — surprise! You were taken somewhere a little more… adult-themed than we intended. 'No, we haven't pivoted to the adult entertainment industry (although based on the click rate, maybe we should consider it?). 'A rogue extension briefly hijacked our link, and for about eight minutes, we were unintentionally promoting a site that definitely wasn't part of the brand plan. We've been getting screenshots sent to us from all over the world — even as far as #ourbalbriggan. 'Shout out to LADbible Ireland for helping us truly cement this moment in internet history. We caught it fast, fixed it faster, but the internet never forgets — and now here we are. 'Hope everyone managed to find their way around the roadblocks for the Skerries Triathlon yesterday without our 'super helpful' link. Sorry about that.'
The Irish Sun
3 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
‘Know your rights when it comes to delayed or cancelled flights' warn transport chiefs over busy summer travel period
TRANSPORT chiefs have warned that holidaymaker's should know their rights when it comes to "delayed or cancelled flights" this summer. As the busy 1 Travel pros have given their top tips ahead of the busy summer season Credit: Getty Images The transport chiefs have released a set of tips for anyone heading off by air, sea or public transport over the coming months. Head of Transport Policy at the Consumer Council, Michelle Kelly, said it's especially important to plan ahead during the busy She said: 'It's best to plan ahead during this busy period. Be it unexpected disruption to flights or sailings due to extraordinary circumstances or delays for any reason, knowing your rights ahead of travel can help. 'We are also reminding consumers of the importance of checking airline policies well in advance such as cabin bag allowances to avoid extra costs at the airport. READ MORE IN TRAVEL 'We have chosen our 2025 summer travel tips based on our communication with consumers over the past year. "Hopefully, our tips will help travellers avoid unnecessary hassle and expense.' Their summer 2025 tips are based on what consumers struggled with most last year, from surprise costs to last-minute panic over The first tip from the Consumer Council is to know your rights - especially if your flight or sailing is delayed or cancelled. Most read in The Irish Sun There are specific protections in place for travellers under The second tip is to book with flexibility in mind, even if it costs a bit more. 'It's very important' - Ryanair's 'baggage sizers' warning to Irish passengers ahead of busy Easter break amid €75 fine Kelly said that while flexible tickets or Next on the checklist is to check your passport early and don't leave it to the week before your holiday to realise it's expired. Some countries require a certain amount of validity left on your passport before you're allowed to enter, and passport renewals can take weeks. If you or someone you're travelling with needs special assistance, such as wheelchair support or help boarding, the Consumer Council stresses that this must be booked at least 48 hours in advance. The Council also recommends checking airport parking charges and pre-booking parking if you're driving to the Some car parks near terminals charge high fees for last-minute arrivals, but booking online in advance often comes with big savings. Another step is to get travel insurance as early as possible, ideally from the moment you book as Kelly said it means you're covered if an illness or disruption affects your plans. 'It is not a replacement for travel insurance' And for those travelling within the EU, it's ideal to apply for a Global Health Insurance Card which can provide access to necessary healthcare in Europe at reduced cost. Kelly said the GHIC is handy for peace of mind, but still urged travellers to ensure their private insurance covers everything from cancellations to The Consumer Council is also advising travellers to keep an eye on travel updates from their airline, airport or ferry provider. Unexpected delays, strikes or weather-related issues can cause major problems, so staying informed can give you a head start if needed. For those using Another common pitfall for airline passengers is not knowing the hand luggage rules, which vary from one airline to another. Some carriers allow only one small cabin bag, while others charge for extra items like handbags or laptop cases and airport staff often enforce these limits strictly. It's also important to check airport security procedures, especially rules on carrying liquids as not being prepared can slow you down or lead to items being confiscated.
