Alarm bells as measles cases rise

THE country is on the brink of another measles epidemic, a public health specialist has warned.

During the first week of January, 15 new cases of measles were reported to the National Disease Surveillance Centre (NDSC). In the same week last year, just one case was reported.

The significant rise has set off alarm bells in the NDSC because fears about a possible link between autism and the triple Measles, Mumps and Rubella jab have led to many parents refusing to let their children have the vaccine. Dr Joan O’Donnell, a specialist in public health medicine at the NDSC, said the reports suggested there was a real risk of a measles epidemic.