Measles alert after two Galway students diagnosed

A measles alert was issued yesterday after two Galway students were found to have the highly contagious disease. Measles can cause serious complications, especially in children.

The HSE has advised students at NUI Galway to ensure they have had two doses of the MMR vaccine.

Its public health department is working closely with the university and will provide on-site clinics if a significant number of students require vaccination.

The HSE said hand-washing was crucial in controlling the spread of infectious diseases.

It said students who were ill should not attend the university until four days after the rash appeared and they were fully well again.

Students should contact their GP by phone if unwell and give advance notice of attending a doctor’s clinic.

The college has used email and text messaging to post notices about the outbreak to staff and students. It has also used social media and electronic blackboards.

“We are doing everything in our power to make students aware of the situation,” said a university spokesperson.

The college’s student health unit will provide vaccination clinics for any student who has not received two doses of MMR vaccine.

There were 55 cases of measles reported to the HSE’s Health Protection Surveillance Centre last year, down from 103 in 2012, with 60 of those in West Cork.

Complications of measles include pneumonia, chest infection and ear infection.