HSE warns of measles outbreak in South, Southwest and West

The HSE Health Protection Surveillance Centre is urging parents to make sure that their children are protected against measles.

The call comes following an outbreak of the disease in three HSE regions; the South, Southwest and West.

Young children and teenagers from the Travelling Community are the worst affected.

The HPSC says that measles can be a serious and potentially fatal illness and children who have not been vaccinated are particularly at risk.

Since January, over 60 cases of measles have been notified nationally, 12 of whom were hospitalised.

This compares with a total of 55 for all of 2008.