Centers for Disease Control and Prevention urges all people traveling internationally to be fully vaccinated against measles.
While the summer travel season is speeding up, measles epidemics in the United States and other countries have the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to update travelers.
The agency urges all people traveling internationally to be fully vaccinated against the virus.
Emily Smith, assistant professor in the World Studies Department of George Washington University, said that the first problem is a sustained transmission in the United States, but that the second issue is similar situations in other countries, such as Indonesia, Thailand and India.
“So now we have some risks in several ways, in several places,” said Smith.
Smith said that some of the places that saw the largest epidemics include Yemen, Pakistan and Afghanistan, but due to instability in these countries, she said that these regions did not see many visitors.
Smith has said that some parts of Europe are also seeing epidemics, which, according to her, similar to the United States, are due to the drop in vaccination rates during the pandemic, an increase in vaccination hesitation and changes in school requirements concerning the vaccine.
“Vaccine coverage reaches this threshold where it is just low enough for measles to start to circulate,” said Smith.
She said that the United States was one of the hot spots in the world, with what it called an unprecedented and widespread epidemic leading to a sustained transmission.
“Previously, years ago, maybe there was a case here,” said Smith. “Someone has traveled somewhere, has taken an infection.”
Smith said vaccinations are the only way to prevent a person from getting measles. Vaccinated adults and a child should be protected.
“If you have younger children who have not yet been vaccinated or who are not fully vaccinated, they may have only one dose, it would be important to have them vaccinated or updated them before traveling, at least a few weeks before leaving,” said Smith.
In addition, people who have weakened immune systems should consult their doctor before traveling.
For those who do not know if they have been vaccinated, there is a test that can answer this question.
If you are not vaccinated and catch measles, or if you are exposed to measles, you must contact your doctor immediately, she said.
“You also have the possibility of obtaining what we call post-exposure prophylaxis or something to support your immune response to measles in the event that you have been exposed,” said Smith.
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