Amid a surge in cases of measles in the U.S. and across the globe, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has urged to increase vaccination among young children, particularly among those traveling abroad, while updating travel advisories.
Since the beginning of this year, there have been 58 confirmed cases of measles in the U.S. across 17 jurisdictions, with seven outbreaks occurring in seven jurisdictions. This is in contrast with last year's total of 58 cases and four outbreaks nationwide.
Among the reported cases this year, 93% were linked to international travel. Most of the cases have been among children below the age of 12 who had not received the vaccination against measles, the CDC said in a health alert issued Monday.
"Many countries, including travel destinations such as Austria, the Philippines, Romania, and the United Kingdom, are experiencing measles outbreaks. To prevent measles infection and reduce the risk of community transmission from importation, all U.S. residents traveling internationally, regardless of destination, should be current on their MMR vaccinations. Healthcare providers should ensure children are current on routine immunizations, including MMR," the CDC said.
In the revised guideline, the CDC has advised one dose of MMR vaccine for children aged 6 to 11 months if they are traveling abroad. Children aged 12 months and older, along with adults without measles immunity, should get two doses of the MMR vaccine, spaced at least 28 days apart, before the travel.
However, children who are not traveling internationally should receive their first dose of the vaccination between 12 and 15 months and their second dose between 4 and 6 years.
"Even if not traveling, ensure that children receive all recommended doses of MMR vaccine. Two doses of MMR vaccine provide better protection (97%) against measles than one dose (93%). Getting an MMR vaccine is much safer than getting measles, mumps, or rubella," the health alert stated.
The updated travel guideline recommends consulting a doctor six weeks before international trips to ensure full vaccination, up from the previous one-month recommendation.
The international travelers who are not fully vaccinated at least two weeks before the departure or have not had measles in the past are at the risk of infection, the officials warned.
"You should plan to be fully vaccinated at least 2 weeks before you depart. If your trip is less than 2 weeks away and you're not protected against measles, you should still get a dose of the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine. The MMR vaccine protects against all 3 diseases. Anyone who is not protected against measles is at risk of getting infected when they travel internationally," the CDC said in an earlier news release.
