Nine confirmed cases of measles in Ireland with 10 further probable or possible cases

The HPSC also indicated the slow spread of the disease around the country, with investigations of these potential cases taking place in various regions.

There are now nine confirmed cases of measles in Ireland, with public health doctors treating one outbreak where the measles infection was shared.

There are also 10 cases under investigation as probable or possible, the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) has said.

“Probable and possible cases of measles have not been laboratory confirmed,” the HPSC added.

It also indicated the slow spread of the disease around the country, with investigations of these potential cases taking place in various regions.

There are now four probable cases in the HSE region covering Dublin and the North East. 

A further four cases are under investigation in the Dublin and South East region.

The Dublin and Midlands region has one case under review, as does the South West.

There are no cases under investigation in the Midwest or West/North-West regions.

This comes as the HSE opens walk-in clinics around the country offering the MMR vaccine as a catch-up programme. This is open for children and adults who may have missed out on the routine schedule of this vaccine.

Third-level institutions have also been running clinics for young people who missed out on the vaccine as children.

The Department of Health asked Hiqa " to prioritise a rapid HTA on infant immunisation against RSV", a Department spokeswoman said.

This will ensure evidence for an immunisation programme "as early as possible" for the group most seriously affected by RSV, she said.

"Beyfortus RSV is a monoclonal antibody, which is a passive immunisation for infants i.e. it is not a vaccine, but instead an immunisation," she added.

Measles data from the HPSC shows 11 confirmed or possible cases identified in the first 11 weeks of this year compared to none during the same time last year.

There has been one death from measles, involving a man in his 40s in the Midlands who was infected in the UK and passed away after returning to Ireland.

Concern is growing among public health doctors of a potential large-scale outbreak here. 

This is due to the continuing high number of cases in other European countries.

The HSE has issued two alerts previously linked to travel where a passenger was identified as having measles.

One positive case was linked to a flight to Dublin from Abu Dhabi on March 9, and another also to Dublin from Cyprus in early March.