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Three suspected cases of measles reported last week

A possible case is where a test has been carried out and results are awaited
A possible case is where a test has been carried out and results are awaited

Health officials have said that three suspected cases of measles were reported between 4 and 10 February and are under examination.

The suspected cases involve a boy and two girls, according to figures from the Health Protection Surveillance Centre.

Two of the children are aged under four and one is aged between five and nine.

One of the possible cases is in the east of the country and two are in the southeast.

A suspected case is where a test has been carried out and results are awaited.

A spokesperson for the Health Service Executive said that "as part of routine Public Health measures, HSE public health investigate incidences of possible measles and it is not unusual to have a number of possible cases notified each week."

"Possible cases subsequently can be de-notified or may be confirmed by laboratory testing.

"There is heightened awareness of measles among clinicians in Ireland due to the notification of the first case Ireland in 2024 and measles outbreaks in England and Europe," the HSE spokesperson said.

Last week, a 48-year old man from Co Westmeath who contracted measles died in the Midland Regional Hospital Mullingar.

This is the only confirmed case of the viral illness this year.

This prompted a public alert, particularly to people who might have been exposed to the virus while he travelled on Bus Éireann Route 115 between Dublin and Mullingar between Tuesday 30 January and Monday 5 February or who may have eaten in a particular restaurant in Mullingar.

In the week between 28 January and 3 February, nine suspected measles cases were reported in children.

All of the cases were also aged nine or younger.

Eight were deemed not to be measles after swab analysis in a laboratory, while the ninth suspected case remains under examination.

Additional reporting Fergal O'Brien