Local GP urges calm amidst measles outbreak warning

DESPITE warnings that a measles outbreak in the North is imminent, a Tyrone GP has said that local people should be “relatively well protected”.

Following a surge in case numbers in Britain and Ireland, including the death of one man in the south, health officials have said it is highly likely that the North will be next to witness a rise.

The last infection in this region was recorded seven years ago.

However, Stormont’s deputy chief medical officer has said measles could become more prevalent.

“There has been an alarming rise in measles infections across Europe this winter… an increase in measles cases in England, and sadly last week health authorities in Ireland reported the death of an adult from measles,” said Dr Lourda Geoghegan.

“While there have been no confirmed cases of measles in Northern Ireland since 2017, it is only a matter of time before the illness is reported here.”

However, while some have been panicked by Dr Geoghegan’s statement, others have remained calm.

Speaking with the TyroneHerald, Dr Declan Gallagher, a GP at Castlederg Surgery, said he believes the threat posed to local people by measles is ‘quite low’.

“In this part of the world, most people have received both their MMR (mumps, measles and rubella) jabs, so the vast majority should be reasonably well protected,” began Dr Declan Gallagher.

“I haven’t heard of any cases locally, and, to be honest, I have never encountered it in my working life, which is testament to the vaccination uptake.”

However, though rare in this region, measles can be highly dangerous.

Common symptoms include red eyes, runny nose, rash, white spots inside mouth and a cough. However, more serious cases can result in long-term health complications and, in the most severe cases, it can be fatal.

“There is a small percentage of people who have received only one or neither of their MMR vaccines and for them, an outbreak could pose a real threat. I would urge anyone who is in that position to make an appointment with your GP as early as you can to get yourself fully immunised,” said Dr Gallagher.

When asked whether he would link the rise in measles across Britain and Ireland to a growing suspicion of vaccines born during the pandemic, Dr Gallagher was reluctant to make a connection.

“I know there was skepticism and unease around the Covid-19 vaccinations, but I don’t know it then permeated attitudes to other vaccinations.”