DISEASE NAME:
Measles
CATEGORY:
Vaccine Preventable
Measles
Measles is an acute viral disease. It has been a notifiable disease in Ireland since 1948. Measles starts with fever, cough, runny nose and red eyes. It’s followed a few days later by a red rash that starts on the head and spreads downwards over the face, neck and body. Measles can cause chest infections, fits, ear infections, swelling of the brain and brain damage. Measles is worst for children under one year of age, pregnant women, and people with poor immunity. Measles virus is highly contagious and spreads through the air through coughing and sneezing. Make sure your child is protected with measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine. Children should get the MMR injection at 12 months of age and again at 4 to 5 years of age.
In Ireland, sporadic measles cases continue to be reported to the HSE HPSC. From 2020-2023, most confirmed cases reported recent travel to countries where outbreaks were ongoing. In 2024, there was a rise in the number of confirmed measles cases. Small outbreaks with person to person measles transmission are also being reported.
Guidance
Guidelines for the Public Health Management of Measles in Ireland
03, Apr 2025
2.02 MB
Public Health Risk Assessment of Suspect Measles Cases Part I
04, Mar 2025
243.08 KB
Public Health Risk Assessment of Suspect Measles Case Part II
03, Apr 2025
149.04 KB
Information for contacts exposed to measles on a flight
10, Jun 2025
118.18 KB
Screening Guide for Potential Infectious Diseases (e.g. Measles) for Administrative/Reception Staff
10, Jun 2025
202.41 KB
Measles exposure during pregnancy - obstetric guidelines
10, Jun 2025
260.12 KB
HSE AMRIC Guidance on Infection Prevention and Control precautions for measles in healthcare settings
01, May 2024
292.99 KB
HNIG
Post-measles exposure Immunoglobulin Pathway
10, Jun 2025
451.82 KB
Information for close contacts of measles cases who require Human Normal Immunoglobulin (HNIG)
10, Jun 2025
109.58 KB
Laboratory investigation of measles
Laboratory investigation of measles infection in NVRL
10, Jun 2025
628.45 KB
Case definition
Measles (Measles virus)
Clinical criteria
Any person with fever AND maculo-papular rash AND at least one of the following three:
- Cough
- Coryza
- Conjunctivitis
Laboratory criteria
At least one of the following four:
- Isolation of measles virus from a clinical specimen
- Detection of measles virus nucleic acid in a clinical specimen
- Measles virus specific antibody response characteristic for acute infection in serum or saliva
- Detection of measles virus antigen by DFA in a clinical specimen using measles specific monoclonal antibodies
Laboratory results need to be interpreted according to the vaccination status. If recently vaccinated, investigate for wild virus.
Epidemiological criteria
An epidemiological link by human to human transmission
Case classification
A. Possible case
Any person meeting the clinical criteria
B. Probable case
Any person meeting the clinical criteria and with an epidemiological link
C. Confirmed case
Any person not recently vaccinated and meeting the clinical and the laboratory criteria
Current as of: 24 January 2019
Information, Data and Reports for Measles
Ireland’s specialist service for the surveillance of communicable diseases.