Symptoms of Measles: Travel Risk Due to an Epidemic in the UK

Measles is a highly contagious viral infection that can lead to life-threatening complications, warned the NHS.

The infection caused about 110,000 deaths worldwide in 2017, mostly children under five years old.

The state of New York is currently in the midst of a measles outbreak that began in September. The viral infection has been diagnosed in at least 160 people since the beginning of the epidemic, including nearly 60 in New York.

Dr. Howard Zucker, State Commissioner for Health, said, "I would say that this is the largest measles outbreak that New York State has ever seen."

The measles virus is transmitted by coughing or sneezing. Simply touching a surface with a patient's droplets can result in an infection.

Travelers may spread the virus to other people, warned Robert Bradshaw, a pharmacist at OxfordOnlinePharmacy.co.uk.

An aircraft cabin is the "ideal place" for spreading the measles virus. About 60 daily flights connect New York to London, according to Anna Aero, the aerial badysis website.

Bradshaw said: "As for similar outbreaks in the UK, this poses a serious risk to anyone traveling to and from America who has not been immunized.

"Our advice to all travelers is to make sure that ROR primary courses and boosters are up to date.

"Measles is a virus suspended in the air that is transmitted by water droplets. A sneeze is therefore the perfect way to spread the virus in the cabin of a plane, from one traveler to the other.

"Children under one year of age, as well as some teens and adults, may experience complications from measles, including hearing and vision problems, as well as pneumonia. In rare cases, measles can be fatal.

"People with measles are contagious as soon as the first symptoms appear. These symptoms can easily be mistaken for a cold and include a stuffy nose and a high temperature.

"People with measles also have sore eyes and stains inside their cheeks."

The most common sign of the virus is the stereotypical eruption of measles. The rash appears about two to four days after the first symptoms.

It causes the bonding of raised individual points, forming rashes on the body. Patients tend to feel sicker the first or second day after the onset of rash.

Other common symptoms of measles include watery eyes, muscle aches, a general lack of energy and swollen eyelids.

Early diagnosis of the disease is crucial. In the absence of treatment, it can lead to life-threatening complications, including hepatitis, meningitis and pneumonia.

You should talk to a doctor as soon as you think that you or your child may have measles, the NHS warned.

The best way to reduce your risk of contracting the measles virus is to get vaccinated against MMR. The vaccine is administered as part of the routine NHS children's immunization program.

In 2016, there were more than 500 cases of measles in England – many of which were due to the lack of MMR vaccine during childhood.