MMR-autism link 'totally repudiated': HSE's Kelleher

Parents are being urged to ensure children are properly vaccinated after an outbreak of measles in the Cork area.

Fifty-one children have been diagnosed with the condition. Two are being treated in hospital.

Assistant national director of health protection with the HSE Dr Kevin Kelleher said there was no reason to avoid vaccination.

"There are no reasons why you should not get your child vaccinated (against measles). It protects your child from a very unpleasant and vicious disease," he said.

"There is still some mythology around the fact that it might be linked to things like autism. That has been totally, totally repudiated.