Parents warned families may have been exposed to measles after case linked to Dublin play centre

The HSE has warned parents to be on the alert for measles after a case was linked to a children’s play centre in Dublin.

The Department of Public Health at the HSE issued a statement with a measles alert for Dublin and the North East region on Tuesday evening, April 16.

It advised that members of the public may have been exposed to measles while attending the Ship Shape Kids soft play centre in Castleknock on Thursday afternoon, April 4.

Ship Shape Kids Play offers soft play activities for children from the age of one to 11.

The warning was sparked after a case of the highly infectious disease was confirmed in the Dublin 15 area.

A number of confirmed measles cases have been notified since the beginning of March, the HSE said in a statement.

If several cases are found within a short period, it increases the risk of ongoing community spread.

HSE advised those who attended the play centre to be alert for symptoms of measles for 21 days from possible exposure.

Therefore, families should be aware of the signs and symptoms of measles until April 25.

Measles is a highly infectious disease that can cause serious complications, in particular in children under one year of age, pregnant women, and the immunosuppressed, HSE has added.

The HSE said it was important to be alert to symptoms, such as sore red eyes and rash usually appearing on the head and neck first and later spreading to the rest of the body.

Other symptoms include cold-like symptoms such as a runny nose, sneezing, a cough, and a temperature of 38 degrees C or above.

Those who have these symptoms are urged to seek medical advice by phoning before attending any healthcare facility.

Members of the public are also urged to make sure that their families are up to date with MMR vaccines.

Those who are not vaccinated with two doses of MMR are advised to contact their GP as soon as possible.

Those who were born in Ireland before 1978 or had measles illness are unlikely to require vaccination, as they are probably immune.

Vaccines can be arranged free of charge with GPs or in the HSE vaccination clinics.

Children should receive their first dose of MMR vaccine at one year of age and a second dose in junior infants, aged 4 to 5 years old.

Ship Shape Kids Play has been contacted for comment.

The HSE warning came after latest figures last week showed two outbreaks of measles reported in private homes, with seven people infected as a result of the virus being passed on.

It came as the number of confirmed cases in Ireland last week rose to 13, with 19 ­under investigation.

In one of the outbreaks in private homes, four people were struck by the illness, according to the Health Protection Surveillance Centre.

It is likely one of the members of the household got the highly contagious infection and then transmitted it to others under the same roof.

A second outbreak led to three members of a household coming down with measles, signalling that cases are no longer just being spread by trips abroad but that the virus is circulating within the country.

Earlier this year, a man in his 40s died of measles after returning to Co Westmeath from the UK, while two airline passengers were found to have the infection.

This led to an alert to others who were also travelling on the same plane.

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