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File photo of a measles-like rash on a young child Shutterstock/Prostock-studio

Measles: What you need to know about the disease, vaccines and who is at risk

A man in Leinster died after contracting the disease amid fears of an outbreak here.

THE FIRST MEASLES death in Ireland in over 20 years was confirmed yesterday.

A man in Leinster died after contracting the disease, the HSE said.

It is understood he recently travelled to the Birmingham area where a measles outbreak has been reported.

Yesterday’s death is the first confirmed case of measles in Ireland so far this year. However, a further nine suspected cases have been reported.

These cases are currently under investigation and need to be tested in a laboratory before being confirmed as measles.

Seven of these cases have been defined as ‘possible’ measles, while two are listed as ‘probable’ measles. The suspected cases, all involving children aged nine and younger, were reported between 28 January and 3 February.

Two or more cases of measles are classed as an outbreak.

There have been relatively few confirmed cases of the disease in Ireland in recent years.

There were four confirmed cases in 2023, two confirmed cases in 2022, no cases were confirmed in 2021, and five cases were confirmed in 2020.

No deaths were reported in any of those years.

Amid a large increase in cases in Europe and a decline in vaccination rates, the HSE has recently been warning of a potential outbreak here. A taskforce has been set up to monitor and respond to the situation

There was a nearly 45-fold increase in measles cases in Europe last year, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO). Around 42,200 people were infected with the disease in 2023, compared with 941 during 2022.

So, what exactly do people need to know about measles and how to prevent it?

What is measles?

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

It typically starts with cold-like symptoms that develop about 10 days after a person gets infected. The person will get a rash a few days later.

The illness usually lasts for seven to 10 days.

What are the symptoms?

  • cold-like symptoms such as aches and pains, a runny nose, sneezing and a cough
  • sore, red eyes that may be sensitive to light
  • a temperature of 38 degrees Celsius or above (fever), which may reach around 40 degrees Celsius
  • small greyish-white spots in your mouth
  • loss of appetite
  • tiredness, irritability and a general lack of energy

Many people with measles develop small greyish-white spots in their mouths. These appear before the rash and usually last for a few days. A rash appears around two to four days after the first symptoms and fades after about a week.

If you have these symptoms, you should seek medical advice. People are advised to phone prior to attending their GP, Emergency Department or other healthcare provider to inform them they have these symptoms.

To reduce the risk of spreading the infection to others, people should avoid:

  • work, school or childcare for at least four days after they developed the measles rash
  • contact with young children and pregnant women

What are the risks? 

If 1,000 people get measles:

  • one or two will die
  • 50 will get an ear infection
  • 40 will get pneumonia or bronchitis
  • five will have convulsions (fits)
  • 160 will get diarrhoea

Typically, one in 1,000 people will develop encephalitis (swelling of the brain). For every 10 children who develop encephalitis, one will die and up to four will have brain damage.

One in 8,000 children under two years of age get SSPE (brain degeneration), which may be many years after measles and is always fatal.

One in 6,000 people will get a blood clotting problem.

What is the MMR vaccine? 

The MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccination is the best way to protect people from measles.

Two doses of the MMR vaccine are necessary to be considered fully vaccinated. The first dose is given by a GP when a child is 12 months of age. The second dose is generally given by school vaccination teams when the child is in junior infants.

If a person is unsure if they or their child has received one or both doses of the MMR vaccine, they should contact their GP. A person can also request their vaccine records from the HSE

An MMR catch-up programme was launched through GP centres in November 2023, aimed at children and young adults who did not receive one or both doses of the vaccine.

Some GPs are also offering MMR boosters to older adults. A person should contact their GP for more information. 

The HSE runs information campaigns targeting migrants who may not have received the MMR vaccine (in a number of languages), as well as members of the Travelling and Roma communities. 

itchyredspotsstrewntheentirebackofasick File photo of a measles-like rash Shutterstock / Aleksandr Finch Shutterstock / Aleksandr Finch / Aleksandr Finch

The overall uptake of the MMR vaccine in Ireland in 2021/2022, the latest figures available, was 87.5%. The uptake rates ranged from 74.1% in Dublin North Central to 97.2% in Dublin South East.

The WHO recommends a 95% uptake rate of the MMR vaccine to ensure herd immunity. Some people cannot be vaccinated – for health reasons, pregnancy, or if they are less than one year old – and rely on mass immunity among the general population.

“The importance of taking precautions to protect both the individual and the community from measles cannot be understated,” a spokesperson from the HSE told The Journal.

“While measles is preventable through vaccination, the virus spreads very quickly between people who are not vaccinated and can have severe consequences, particularly for babies and vulnerable groups.”

Vaccine hesitancy 

A recent Irish study estimated that almost one-in-five males aged 18 and 19 are unvaccinated against measles. 

The HSE spokesperson said some parents are or were hesitant to vaccinate their children “due to concerns about vaccine safety, often fuelled by misinformation”.

One of the reasons some people are reluctant to vaccinate their children is because of a now widely-discredited study from the late 1990s. 

British doctor Andrew Wakefield published a study in the Lancet medical journal in 1998 that linked the MMR vaccine to autism.

However, the findings were later disproved. In 2010, the study was retracted and Wakefield was struck off the medical register in the UK.

In the past 30 years, more than 500 million doses of MMR vaccine have been given in over 90 countries. 

“Experts from around the world, including the World Health Organisation, agree that there is no link between the MMR vaccine and autism,” the HSE’s spokesperson said.

“Numerous studies have proved that the vaccine is safe, however the misinformation may continue to circulate and can influence vaccine decisions.”

A decline in uptake rates may also be partially due to complacency. There have been relatively few measles cases in Ireland in recent years because of the success of the MMR vaccine.

Due to the fact cases are rare, some people “underestimate the severity” of measles and choose not to get vaccinated or vaccinate their child, the spokesperson added.

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    Mute Brian Keelty
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    Aug 10th 2023, 2:11 PM

    Of course they have, they couldn’t upset their masters

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    Mute Shaun Gallagher
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    Aug 10th 2023, 3:03 PM

    @Brian Keelty: We are really being taking to the cleaners. Yet they will still most likely be voted back in

    277
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    Mute Tommy Haze
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    Aug 10th 2023, 3:15 PM

    @Shaun Gallagher:
    This is the thing. People predicting we’ll have a new left wing alliance with Sinn Fein at helm and a bright egalitarian socialist future ahead of us are ignoring the numbers.
    FineGreenaGaelaFail know they’ll be back in unless there’s a political disaster hidden in the long grass.
    They’re just biding their time, whistling in the wind.

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    Mute Tom Newell
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    Aug 10th 2023, 4:13 PM

    @John John: u mean where the DUP literally say no to everything that doesnt look orange, requires a tri-colour to be burned or kissing pictures of king billy before they go to bed at night

    86
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    Mute Peter
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    Aug 10th 2023, 2:11 PM

    We are the taxpayers, we decide. Next election will be fun. Last winter was tough with high energy costs, wait until this winter with higher mortgage/rents too. Gas prices going back up.

    355
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    Mute Dave C
    Favourite Dave C
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    Aug 10th 2023, 2:52 PM

    @Peter: Surprised there was little out cry at the article recently on the CRU giving the go ahead to GNI to increase gas prices, so yes expect a rise in unit rate shortly!

    83
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    Mute I'm Far Right
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    Aug 10th 2023, 2:59 PM

    @Peter: No. We are the debt slaves. You WILL give the government a cut of everything that you earn or they WILL throw you in prison. They’ll do what they like with it and you will have no say in the matter. We won’t call it extortion though… we’ll call it democracy. More palatable that way.

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    Mute Dave C
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    Aug 10th 2023, 3:05 PM

    @I’m Far Right: Democracy, picking from the best of the best… Reality picking from the chosen few who might not do you over 10/10 style.

    14
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    Mute Dave Barrett
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    Aug 11th 2023, 10:25 AM

    @Peter: Very possible mortgage arrears will be surfacing more and more as everything rises.

    1
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    Mute Tommy Haze
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    Aug 10th 2023, 2:55 PM

    Both right and left wing governments across Europe in agreement about financial profiteering by the banks.
    Of course our government takes a different line.

    223
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    Mute Dan Dare
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    Aug 11th 2023, 2:09 PM

    @Tommy Haze: If they are then they have no clue about banking because these profits are being caused by the increase in the base rates from the ECB, which is an organisation that is answerable to those very same governments… See, this is the kind of sham governance you get when you vote for populist governments like SF. Be smarter.

    1
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    Mute James Groden
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    Aug 10th 2023, 2:19 PM

    Whatever you do, ignore the 34 arrests by Interpol in Ireland today…

    186
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    Mute Brendan O'Brien
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    Aug 10th 2023, 2:38 PM

    @James Groden: Actually between 15 and 29 May. Cybercrime.

    27
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    Mute Davy
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    Aug 10th 2023, 2:34 PM

    FFG are truly anti-Irish …

    273
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    Mute Mtk
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    Aug 10th 2023, 2:11 PM

    As the government have their fingers in the banks coffers already why would they tax themselves? They want to make them attractive for sell off

    159
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    Mute Mick McGuinness
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    Aug 10th 2023, 2:32 PM

    The Circus performers afraid upset their EU Ring Masters.

    148
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    Mute Aidan Mcguire
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    Aug 10th 2023, 2:41 PM

    To James Groden,,,couldn’t reply directly to you..you won’t hear about those arrests on our news channels..The 34 were members of a vicious African mafia style gang called ‘black axe’….shush now….Cultural enrichment a gogo…

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    Mute Brendan O'Brien
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    Aug 10th 2023, 2:48 PM

    @Aidan Mcguire: They are financial scammers.

    Migration is a fact of life, as is the fact that some migrants, including Irish ones, are criminals of one sort or another.

    42
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    Mute Thomas Berry
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    Aug 10th 2023, 2:52 PM

    @Aidan Mcguire: It was in May and it was covered in the media. You must living in a cave or something.

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    Mute Tom Donnell
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    Aug 11th 2023, 11:40 AM

    @John John: And in order to be fair, all emigration aswell?

    1
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    Mute Aidan C
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    Aug 10th 2023, 2:56 PM

    Every interest rate increase,the banks profit increase. This connection needs to stop.
    There are better ways to take money out of circulation.

    62
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    Mute rock chick
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    Aug 10th 2023, 4:48 PM

    Donohoe and the Governor of the Central Bank need to resign their positions or be relieved of their duties.Causing so much distress and hardship for so many families while spouting out the usual mantra about fighting inflation simply doesn’t wash anymore.Lets get someone in charge who has the interests of all the people and use the enormous profits for the common good.We have had enough from them banking shysters who have continually given two fingers to the people
    after the bail out.LETS SEE SOME GENUINE PATRIOTISM.

    66
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    Mute Niall Sheridan
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    Aug 10th 2023, 5:15 PM

    Our politicians won’t do this!! They need good bank board jobs after the next elections when they are forced “to retire to spend more time with their families”!

    44
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    Mute Richard Maher
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    Aug 10th 2023, 3:57 PM

    We mustn’t upset the banks

    41
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    Mute Tom Newell
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    Aug 10th 2023, 4:11 PM

    nah they rather have the taxpayers pay for everything sure

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    Mute Telemachine
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    Aug 10th 2023, 4:02 PM

    How could they afford to displase their future employers.

    31
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    Mute Rodney Byrne
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    Aug 10th 2023, 8:02 PM

    Inheritance threshold tax for children is 4% in Italy over €1 million. In Ireland it’s 33% on amounts over €335000. Wake up people of Ireland

    30
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    Mute Injustice Cop
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    Aug 10th 2023, 7:37 PM

    Can I get my USC money back please? Dropping this charge after the 2008+ recession was a promise that was never kept. And for those smart-backsides out there who argue there’s still a recession, there’s not.

    29
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    Mute did you every wonder
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    Aug 10th 2023, 10:14 PM

    @Injustice Cop: totally agree. What does.the USC pay for now anyway. Is it still for the bail out of the billion euro profit banks ?. Something stinks here.

    16
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    Mute Stephen Walshe
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    Aug 10th 2023, 6:17 PM

    A billion in profits and our banks rob us on mortgage rates and those Kurt’s in the dail stand by watching people go under.

    33
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    Mute Dave Grant
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    Aug 10th 2023, 3:02 PM

    What a shocker!

    24
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    Mute john christopher
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    Aug 10th 2023, 5:19 PM

    Now they wouldn’t want to upset the bankers would they. But they screw every cent out of Joe public

    30
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    Mute Paddy C
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    Aug 10th 2023, 7:41 PM

    Great the way the banks could be bailed out fairly quick but the people who paid the price for they’re reckless lending can be hung out to dry,what did we expect I suppose certainly not much action from those cabbages in the dail hard enough to keep Eamon awake for the day that’s in it, absolute joke

    20
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    Mute Tommy O'Neill
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    Aug 10th 2023, 4:30 PM

    Ferret Hayes won’t let them!

    15
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    Mute Proinnsias O'Dubhlaoich
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    Aug 10th 2023, 7:20 PM

    Was there ever a more dishonest shower in power, every single thing they say and do is so disingenuous . Pretending they can’t force the banks to pass on the interest rates to savers like they did to borrowers. Like we have to take all these military aged men in under International protection nonsense when we know they’ve invited them here. Taking in fake Ukrainian refugees with their big Audis and Mercs when 80% of that huge country has no conflict whatsoever. Every word out these traitors is a lie, buying people’s silence with 30 pieces of silver at every budget. When are the Irish people going to realise their country is being demographically altered permanently and they will lose their homeland in a very short space of time at this rate. Just take your face out of your phone and observe what’s happening to you country, by the way our government are delighted thousands of well educated and qualified young people are heading away, more room for the new Irish.

    23
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    Mute Wombleman
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    Aug 10th 2023, 4:46 PM

    @Tom Newell: It’s not a binary choice between saving in a cash deposit or not spending at all.

    You save what you need for short term emergencies in a cash deposit and you invest the rest so you can earn a return in excess of inflation. That way, when you retire you are not poor.

    We have over €150bn in private personal deposit accounts in Ireland earning an average rate of 0.03% which is ridiculous. It is also no coincidence that we have the second lowest rate of financial literacy in Ireland.

    Deposits and cash are an absolutely terrible choice for long term savings, that’s simply an undeniable fact.

    12
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    Mute Trent
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    Aug 10th 2023, 2:35 PM

    Giorgia Meloni looks very confused

    11
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    Mute Tommy Haze
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    Aug 10th 2023, 3:04 PM

    @Trent:
    Eh! mi scuzi signori, I’m a trying to help a the people.
    What’s a the problemo?

    13
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    Mute Trent
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    Aug 10th 2023, 3:15 PM

    @Tommy Haze: Either that or she’s banging out a Pavarotti Hahaha

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    Mute Tommy Haze
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    Aug 10th 2023, 3:17 PM

    @Trent:
    O sole mio!

    5
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    Mute Paddy C
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    Aug 10th 2023, 7:29 PM

    Pity we don’t have leaders with courage like her

    12
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    Mute Vincent Hickey
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    Aug 10th 2023, 9:39 PM

    Wait until we are forced to go cashless then you’ll see the true vipers they are controlling people’s lives watch this space

    11
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    Mute Roj Blake
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    Aug 10th 2023, 4:17 PM

    Sensible to learn from the mistakes other countries have made

    7
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    Mute Wombleman
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    Aug 10th 2023, 3:43 PM

    Meloni made a bags of it and had to move swiftly to cap the tax at 0.1% of asset value.

    Also, forcing banks to increase interest rates on deposits is a terrible idea, it will encourage people to keep too much cash on deposit rather than put it to work in the economy and, as central banks have to make sure that passive cash loses out to inflation in the long term, all it will do is ensure that more people lose the value of their savings in the future.

    6
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    Mute Tom Newell
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    Aug 10th 2023, 4:16 PM

    @Wombleman: yet when people dont save and have nothing for when they retire etc the same people complaining this will cause people to save too much will be whining again

    17
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    Mute Monty Carlow
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    Aug 11th 2023, 11:20 AM

    Our crowd can’t stand to see us on anything other than basic income. This house of cards will soon fall.

    3
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    Mute James murphy
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    Aug 13th 2023, 4:19 PM

    The Rothschild’s and Rockefellers control our banking system with usary. They also control our country along with others through their bonds purchases across all state departments. They also control our political parties. Their bank accounts need to be audited. That’s when the proof will come out. The bond holders were not burned during the crisis because they were the globalists that are casing all this tyranny today. To have any understanding of the mahem today, you need to look at the shareholders in every company and it will be as clear as day.

    3
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