On the way to Europe this summer? Get your measles vaccine

(HealthDay) – As Europe grapples with its biggest measles outbreaks since the 1990s, US health officials are urging travelers to keep up with the flu shot.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), in 2018, European countries reported more than 83,500 cases of measles, including 74 deaths. The majority of cases concerned Ukraine, but Serbia, France, Italy, Greece, the Russian Federation and Georgia were also severely affected.

The WHO said that in the first two months of this year, more than 34,300 cases of measles were reported throughout the European region.

"This is clearly not going away," said Dr. Kristina Angelo of the US Department of Travel Health's US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

However, the CDC urges travelers to ensure that they and their children are aware of measles immunization before traveling to Europe.

The agency has long encouraged international travelers to get vaccinated before they leave.

But, said Angelo, people often think that Europe is a "low-risk destination" for infectious diseases – and that they may not think about planning a medical checkup before their trip.

Thus, the CDC "reinforces" its recommendations to travelers to Europe, she said.

Children are usually given the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine at 12 to 15 months of age, followed by a second dose at 4 to 6 years of age.

But if they travel, the advice is different, explained the CDC.

In this case, babies 6 to 11 months old should receive a single dose of MMR. Meanwhile, young people aged 12 months and older should receive two doses, spaced 28 days apart, although they have not yet received the standard MMR vaccine.

For adults, make sure you have evidence of immunity against measles before traveling, recommends the CDC. This may include written documentation indicating adequate immunization, a blood test showing immunity or your age: people born before 1957 are presumed immune because they may have been naturally exposed to measles during outbreaks.

You do not necessarily need to search your attic for medical records. Angelo noted that states often keep vaccination records and that you or your health care provider can access information in this way.

If there is no evidence of presumed immunity, the CDC recommends obtaining the MMR.

The agency presents its advice in the July issue of pediatrics.

Dr. Paul Offit, a vaccine expert not involved in the report, agreed that his message was timely.

"Most people do not consider a trip to Western Europe as a potential exposure to a life-threatening infectious disease," said Offit, who heads the Vaccine Education Center of the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.

"But measles is common in many popular tourist destinations, like Italy and France," he said. "Travelers must make sure that they are up to date with their measles vaccine before getting off the plane."

Why do epidemics hit these countries? Low vaccination rates, says the CDC. In some European populations or communities, vaccination rates are below 70%. This is due to a combination of factors, ranging from parental concerns about vaccine safety to religious or cultural beliefs, to regional instability in some countries, according to the report.

According to Angelo, in the United States, most cases of measles are related to international travel. Unvaccinated travelers can not only get sick, but also report the infection and possibly pbad it on to other people who have not been vaccinated.

Measles was considered eliminated in the United States in 2000. But since the beginning of the year, the CDC has received 1,044 cases of measles in the country, the highest number since 1992. These cases were confirmed in 28 states.

According to Angelo, everything emphasizes the importance of keeping all children informed of the reality of the RMM, not just those who will travel.

Measles is a highly contagious virus that spreads in the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes. Symptoms include high fever, cough and runny nose; The rash appears three to five days after the first symptoms, according to the CDC.

While most people recover, some develop serious complications such as pneumonia and swelling of the brain. According to the CDC, nearly 5% of children with measles have pneumonia and one to three children in 1,000 die.

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