Measles cases rise in Europe as HSE issues vaccine reminder for travellers

Vaccination is the best line of defence against measles and the HSE have reminded the Irish public of this. File picture: Getty Images

The HSE has issued a reminder of the dangers of measles as cases continue to rise around Europe - including in a number of popular tourist destinations.

A lag in the number of children receiving vaccinations against measles has led to the surge, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has said. Measles is one of the most contagious viruses affecting people. 

As well as hospitalisation and death caused by complications including pneumonia, encephalitis, diarrhoea and dehydration, measles can cause long-term, debilitating health complications such as blindness. Furthermore, it can also damage the immune system by “erasing" its memory of how to fight infections, leaving measles survivors vulnerable to other diseases. 

Vaccination is the best line of defence against the virus and the HSE have reminded the Irish public of this.

They said: "The best way to protect yourself and those around you against measles and to prevent the spread of measles in Ireland is to ensure you and your family members are vaccinated against measles."

They added that the public should "be aware" of the symptoms. The MMR vaccine is part of the childhood vaccination schedule in Ireland.

Babies and children get:

• dose 1 from a GP when they are aged 12 months 
• dose 2 at school when they are aged four to five (in junior infants) unless in Donegal, Sligo or Leitrim, where a GP will deliver it.

For those concerned about travel, babies aged six to 11 months can get an MMR vaccine before travelling to another country. Babies aged under six months cannot get the MMR vaccine.

Ireland has recorded 63 cases of measles so far in 2025. In 2024, the total recorded cases here was 204, which in itself was a huge spike compared to the figure of five recorded in 2023.

Speaking about the fall in vaccination rates, Dr Hans Henri P. Kluge of the WHO said the drop was "alarming".

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He said: "These are not just numbers – it’s hundreds of thousands of families in anguish because their children are sick, and it could have been prevented.”

“Vaccines save lives, and when coverage drops, disease spreads. That’s why countries must invest in strong local health systems, ensure vaccines are available and accessible in every neighborhood and fight misinformation."

Analysis by the WHO and UNICEF showed that 127,350 measles cases were reported in the European Region for 2024, double the number of cases reported for 2023 and the highest number since 1997. Europe accounted for a third of all measles cases globally in 2024.