Overview
- No confirmed cases of measles in Northern Ireland for seven years, but an outbreak is now considered likely.
- Recent measles-related death in the Republic of Ireland raises concerns of a potential island-wide outbreak.
- Vaccination rates in Northern Ireland fall short of WHO recommendations, with only 85% of children fully vaccinated by age five.
- Clusters of measles cases reported in England, including London and the West Midlands, with 166 cases in the last month.
- Health officials emphasize the importance of the MMR vaccine to prevent the spread of measles and protect against serious complications.