An adult with a confirmed case of measles has died in Leinster, the Health Service Executive has said.
The adult died in a hospital in the Dublin and Midlands health region.
It is the first confirmed measles case notified in Ireland this year, the HSE said.
Public health teams and the Measles National Incident Management Team (IMT) "are taking all necessary public health actions in relation to the case," a statement added.
The IMT was established in response to a recent spike in measles cases across the UK and Europe.
There were four measles cases reported in 2023, two in 2022, none in 2021 and five in 2020.
No deaths were reported in any of those years.
The HSE said it offers the MMR vaccine to protect against measles to all children and a catch-up option for those aged ten and under who may have missed out on a vaccination.
"The HSE will keep the public informed of further measures and, in the meantime, anyone with concerns should contact their GP," it said.
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Chief Medical Officer Professor Breda Smyth said she is "very concerned" that Ireland is "at high risk" of a measles outbreak.
In a social media post, Prof Smyth said: "We need 95% of the population to be vaccinated in order to prevent measles infection from spreading.
"Unfortunately, the uptake rate for the MMR vaccine in Ireland has fallen below 90% nationally and, in some counties, the rate is as low as below 80%.
"Also, we know from recent studies that nearly 20% of males aged 18 or 19 years do not have immunity to measles.
"This is particularly concerning as currently we're seeing a rise in cases in the UK and across Europe.
"If you're considering travelling to these areas, I would strongly urge you to ensure that you and/or your child are protected.
"The MMR is a safe and very effective vaccine," Prof Smyth added.
Measles is a highly infectious disease that can cause serious complications, particularly in children aged under one, pregnant women and the immunosuppressed.
The signs and symptoms include:
- Cold-like symptoms such as aches and pains, a runny nose, sneezing and a cough
- Sore red eyes that may be sensitive to light
- A temperature of 38C or above, which may reach around 40C
- Small greyish-white spots in the mouth
- Loss of appetite
- Tiredness, irritability and a general lack of energy
- Rash, which usually appears on head and neck first, and spreads to the rest of the body
The HSE said the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has reported a resurgence of measles cases in England, particularly in the West Midlands and London.
According to the HSE's Health Protection Surveillance Centre, most confirmed cases since 2020 reported recent travel to countries where outbreaks were ongoing.
