Measles: unvaccinated travelers warned against high risk

Health officials in Northern Ireland warn people to make sure they are vaccinated against measles after outbreaks in Europe.

The Public Health Agency (PHA) has produced a video on social networks highlighting the importance of the MMR vaccine.

Experts say people traveling to and from France, Italy, Greece, Romania, England and the Republic of Ireland are at particularly high risk.

The highly infectious viral disease can lead to serious health complications.

Dr. Jenny Mack, a public health registrar at PHA, said the video was meant to highlight the signs and symptoms of the disease.

"Thanks to the high proportion of Northern Ireland who have made the positive decision to receive the MMR vaccine in recent decades, the cases of these three diseases have declined significantly here," she said.

"However, these diseases have not left and some countries are experiencing measles outbreaks."

She added: "Until measles is eliminated in the world, we will continue to see cases of measles imported into the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland.

"Ensuring your children have received two doses of MMR vaccine will give them the best protection here and during their travels abroad."

In March, UNICEF warned of a "global spike" in measles cases.

The charity said that 98 countries had reported an increase.

School prohibition

Italy has recently introduced new laws banning schooling for unvaccinated children.

Children under six will be excluded from nursery and kindergarten without proof of vaccination under the new rules.

Measles cases in the Republic of Ireland have increased by 244% between 2017 and 2018, according to UNICEF.

Last year, there were 86 cases in Ireland, up from 25 the year before.

In February, RTÉ reported a measles outbreak in Donegal County.

The Irish health agency, the Health Service Executive, said the outbreak was linked to a third-tier institution in Galway.