Measles

jakeypooh

Would you guys advise to avoid ikea with an 1 year old due to this?

smaoifs

jakeypooh wrote:

Would you guys advise to avoid ikea with an 1 year old due to this?

Has there been any advisories issued on where the outbreaks are? I know sometimes you'll hear on the news that a person with measles had travelled on a particular plane or bus. Would they go as far as saying public areas or shopping centres that the sick person had been to?

Anne_cordelia

jakeypooh wrote: »

Would you guys advise to avoid ikea with an 1 year old due to this?

I wouldn’t avoid based on this. I feel like there is a lot of hysteria on this thread tbh. Yes measles is very serious but life goes on and personally I wouldn’t live in fear. No matter what you do, you could potentially encounter someone with an infectious disease and not know it so no point in stressing about it.

greenttc

Anne_cordelia wrote: »

I feel like there is a lot of hysteria on this thread tbh.

I think it is very unfair of you to diminish the concerns of parents with very young unvaccinated babies and non immune pregnant ladies by saying we have created a lot of hysteria. I think it was quite a rational discussion with valid questions and informative answers and i for one am grateful to have learned what i did.

Neyite

jakeypooh wrote: »

Would you guys advise to avoid ikea with an 1 year old due to this?

I'd do a Teresa Mannion on it tbh. Different if it's an unavoidable journey with the baby but otherwise, no. Tiny risk I know but would you ever forgive yourself if they got it while you brought them out on a non urgent shopping trip.

Neyite

smaoifs wrote: »

Has there been any advisories issued on where the outbreaks are? I know sometimes you'll hear on the news that a person with measles had travelled on a particular plane or bus. Would they go as far as saying public areas or shopping centres that the sick person had been to?

They aren't announcing specific locations - presumably due to potential panic. Upthread a boardsie got a text it was in her child's school. Nothing on the media about the location of a confirmed case. They are being very vague.

Toots

I was asking my GP about it yesterday, and so far the confirmed cases are in Meath and North Dublin - that's as specific as they've been told. Apparently there are a couple of others "pending" but the HSE won't release the location unless a case is confirmed - if a child is suspected of having measles the GP is obliged to report it and then there are tests carried out (I think it's swabs) to confirm if it's definitely measles or not.

Anne_cordelia

greenttc wrote: »

I think it is very unfair of you to diminish the concerns of parents with very young unvaccinated babies and non immune pregnant ladies by saying we have created a lot of hysteria. I think it was quite a rational discussion with valid questions and informative answers and i for one am grateful to have learned what i did.

I have a very young unvaccinated baby (unvaccinated because of age). I’m not going to stay indoors until she’s 12 months and a week just in case. I was answering a question with my opinion.

JupiterKid

The anti-vaxxers anger me somewhat. They are clearly putting their children and other babies and children at risk when there are vaccines available to protect them from potentially serious illness.

I had measles when I was about 6 in the early 1980s. All the kids in my area got it. I remember being very unwell, feverish and covered in spots. The MMR was not yet available in Ireland at the time but I do know I was given the DPT vaccine as a baby and also for polio with a tetanus booster at about 9 years of age. My former American colleague got the MMR as a baby in the mid 1970s (she's the same age as me) so it must have come late to Ireland. There are so many vaccines you can get and I would recommend most of these - especially Hep B and Hep C for young adults.

I just can't understand the warped mentality of anti-vaxxers. The risks associated with side effects of vaccines are tiny, really tiny compared to the risks of contracting the diseases. Did you know mumps can make a young boy sterile for life? Rubella in a young woman can significantly risk her child being seriously disabled. Measles can kill.

Vaccinate. It's for the best. And to those parents concerned, avoid the areas where an outbreak has occurred. The reason for these sad outbreaks are that not enough people are vaccinating their kids. The vaccination rate needs to be over 90% to keep the diseases at bay. Their selfishness of those parents who won't vaccinate their children is staggering.

greenttc

Neyite wrote: »

I'd do a Teresa Mannion on it tbh. Different if it's an unavoidable journey with the baby but otherwise, no. Tiny risk I know but would you ever forgive yourself if they got it while you brought them out on a non urgent shopping trip.

Ha, love the teresa mannion analogy!! It describes exactly how I am approaching it, will be doing all normal walks and park trips and food shopping etc which has to be done but wont be bringing him to the likes of window shopping in dundrum or browsing in ikea which would just be satisfying my own entertainment needs and had no other real function. If I really needed to get something though I would just go. Suppose we just have to be sensible about it!

waterfaerie

Anne_cordelia wrote: »

I wouldn’t avoid based on this. I feel like there is a lot of hysteria on this thread tbh. Yes measles is very serious but life goes on and personally I wouldn’t live in fear. No matter what you do, you could potentially encounter someone with an infectious disease and not know it so no point in stressing about it.

Anne_cordelia wrote: »

I have a very young unvaccinated baby (unvaccinated because of age). I’m not going to stay indoors until she’s 12 months and a week just in case. I was answering a question with my opinion.

Nobody here is suggesting staying indoors until the babies are 12 months. That would be hysterical.

We are discussing whether it's best to avoid affected areas if there is no real need to visit them. Yes, the risk is probably extremely small but, if it's a non essential outing, why take any risk at all?

In my case, my trip to Dublin would involve seeing a family member and their kids who are visiting from overseas. I only see them every few years. It's not essential but I'd love to see them, hence why I'm torn and don't know what to do.

On the one hand, it seems silly not to see them because of such a small risk but on the other hand, my daughter's life is more important and I sort of feel people who have just been travelling may be even higher risk, given that the measles outbreak has come from Europe. Also, it's a long drive so it would mean an overnight stay in an area where measles is currently spreading.

I need to decide today. I'm leaning towards staying put but feeling a bit guilty about it.

catrionanic

I spoke to the nurse in our local surgery, who spoke to some specialist in the HSE, who said they don’t recommend giving the MMR any earlier than 12 months.

I also spoke to a HSE GP, who said that the outbreak is along the Liffey and mainly amongst the travelling community?? She said she would avoid playgroups etc if it was her.

Digs

catrionanic wrote: »

I spoke to the nurse in our local surgery, who spoke to some specialist in the HSE, who said they don’t recommend giving the MMR any earlier than 12 months.

I also spoke to a HSE GP, who said that the outbreak is along the Liffey and mainly amongst the travelling community?? She said she would avoid playgroups etc if it was her.

I was speaking to a specialist also who works in infectious diseases, she’s an aquaintance so it was a casual chat. She said the same. The cases are in North Dublin amongst specific demographics as they haven’t the same uptake on vaccinations and GP visits etc and for the moment it’s limited to within their communities. It goes without saying she said hospital A&Es would be places to avoid at all costs unless strictly necessary. Otherwise she is carrying on as normal with her two small children.

She was very calm about the situation (I suppose it’s her area of expertise!), chances are it may spread but she hopes to god it will encourage anti vaxxers to take notice!

greenttc

Thats interesting, when I was looking up the HSE website about it last week I did notice that there was a pdf of a leaflet specifically for the travelling community and wondered why.

Surprised that it is more common in that community, I thought they would have been quite traditional and would have accepted vaccinations for their children, but its obviously the other way around. Glad the HSE are trying to educate and create better awareness of the vaccinations importance. Even in that one demographic.

Yeah I was talking to some medical people too and they said to just wait till 12 months to vaccinate, that will be February for us so not too far off anyway.

Neyite

greenttc wrote: »

Thats interesting, when I was looking up the HSE website about it last week I did notice that there was a pdf of a leaflet specifically for the travelling community and wondered why.

Surprised that it is more common in that community, I thought they would have been quite traditional and would have accepted vaccinations for their children, but its obviously the other way around. Glad the HSE are trying to educate and create better awareness of the vaccinations importance. Even in that one demographic.

Yeah I was talking to some medical people too and they said to just wait till 12 months to vaccinate, that will be February for us so not too far off anyway.

I'd guess the lapse in vaccinations is not down to any anti-vaxx feelings in the community but more to do with not keeping appointments or moving around to different areas and not letting the PHN or GP know their next address. And probably not understanding the importance of ensuring your child gets the free vaccines. I'd guess that any other schemes like cervical check or breast check have a poorer uptake in the travelling community compared to other demographics.

greenttc

You are probably right neyite.

God it must be awful for them, i mean we are wary of the wider population and the possibility of picking it up anywhere, they must be worried about picking it up from their own friends and family in their own communities, the very places they need support from if they had young babies etc.

Toots

Digs wrote: »

I was speaking to a specialist also who works in infectious diseases, she’s an aquaintance so it was a casual chat. She said the same. The cases are in North Dublin amongst specific demographics as they haven’t the same uptake on vaccinations and GP visits etc and for the moment it’s limited to within their communities. It goes without saying she said hospital A&Es would be places to avoid at all costs unless strictly necessary. Otherwise she is carrying on as normal with her two small children.

She was very calm about the situation (I suppose it’s her area of expertise!), chances are it may spread but she hopes to god it will encourage anti vaxxers to take notice!

Yes, it was A&E (particularly in children's hospitals) that my GP mentioned would be a high risk area - mainly because a lot of parents with a kid with a high temp would take them to A&E. He just said to me that if my son needs a trip to A&E while I'm still pregnant, ask my husband or a relative to bring him. I think A&E during winter is a bit of a double edged sword because so many people show up there with the flu and other infectious stuff, you could go in with a sprained ankle and come out with the vomiting bug.

whiskeyman

Outbreak affecting north of England now.
Seems to have been affecting Europe over the summer also.

http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/uk-measles-outbreak-symptoms-nhs-treatment-leeds-liverpool-north-spots-rash-a8073726.html

Shadow1983

Sorry to bump an old thread but just have a question about the MMR. I found out today I've only had the first shot of the MMR (born in 1983). Should I try to get the 2nd shot now??

Sorry ... edited to add that I've been in contact with someone with suspected measles, not confirmed yet however.

fits

You should ask your GP. ( by phone).

I got measles when I was four after getting the one vaccination shot.

PhoenixParker

Shadow1983 wrote: »

Sorry to bump an old thread but just have a question about the MMR. I found out today I've only had the first shot of the MMR (born in 1983). Should I try to get the 2nd shot now??

Sorry ... edited to add that I've been in contact with someone with suspected measles, not confirmed yet however.

Some of the blood tests they do when you're pregnant test your immunity, pretty sure measles is on the list; chickenpox definitely is.

Your doctor or maternity hospital should be able to tell you.

smaoifs

PhoenixParker wrote:

Some of the blood tests they do when you're pregnant test your immunity, pretty sure measles is on the list; chickenpox definitely is.

I don't know if "regular" Measles is tested for but my Rubella immunity was definitely checked at my booking in appointment.

bee06

smaoifs wrote: »

I don't know if "regular" Measles is tested for but my Rubella immunity was definitely checked at my booking in appointment.

Yeah, rubella and chicken pox were the two I was checked for.

waterfaerie

I'm fairly sure measles immunity is not one of the ones checked during pregnancy but there doesn't seem to be much consistency in maternity care across the country so maybe some places do check it.

Apparently 90-95% of people have full immunity after one dose (and over 99% after 2 doses) so unless you were high risk I wouldn't think a second dose would be necessary as a healthy adult. The second dose is more important in children because they tend to spread things more easily in schools etc and because they would be more at risk if they did catch it.

I am in the same situation and I asked my GP when I brought my daughter for hers at 12 months. She said not to bother. I think if it was an issue they would be recommending for all adults to get it because most people over 30 would only have had the one dose.

I also don't think it would be any use if you were already exposed so, if that's the only reason you were thinking about it, I don't see the point.

I think the best thing would be to ring your own GP and ask their advice about your possible recent exposure and also about whether you should get a second dose for the future.