Inquiry into measles outbreak
A similar inquiry is also being undertaken by the health authorities in Norway after 16 reported cases there among other Travellers from Ireland.
A total of 92 cases of measles were reported among young Irish Travellers in England between March and May this year. The outbreak in England is believed to be associated with a gathering of Travellers in south-east London on April 3 last.
The UK Health Protection Agency (HPA) said it had 43 confirmed and 49 probable cases of measles among the Irish Traveller community in Britain.
The investigation has revealed that 95% of those with confirmed cases of measles were unvaccinated for the disease.
Thirteen Traveller children were admitted to hospital, although no serious complications arising from measles infection were reported.
The health authorities noted that there were several peaks in the detection of cases which coincided with the traditional incubation period for measles of 10 days.
“This pattern suggests ongoing transmission within the Irish Travellers’ community,” said a HPA spokesperson. “Low vaccination coverage and frequent movement of travelling communities present a particular challenge for measles elimination in Europe.”
All those diagnosed with measles were identified as living in one of 10 distinct Traveller sites in England. All cases related to young Travellers between the ages of two months and 21 years.
The HPA also expressed concern that the outbreak could be spreading to Irish Traveller communities in other parts of Britain and Europe.
As a result of the outbreak, the British health authorities have taken additional steps to offer the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine to members of the Irish Traveller community.
Travellers’ organisations and societies have also been contacted to help raise awareness of the importance of MMR vaccination.
A similar outbreak, but with a different strain of the disease, occurred in England last year which resulted in over 700 cases of measles among Irish Travellers.
The outbreak of measles among unvaccinated Irish Travellers based in Norway last month is being linked to the suspected importation of the disease by an infected Irish Traveller from Britain.
The outbreak is confined to several families who are mostly based in a campsite near Trondheim in central Norway.
