Talking Points: Measles Outside the US (July 20, 2017)
Talking Points – Measles Outside the U.S.
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The following Talking Points can be used in conversations with the media and clients when discussing the measles outbreaks, including in Indonesia, Romania and Guinea. (Updated July 20, 2017)
1. Measles is still very common in many parts of the world, including areas in Europe, Asia, the Pacific and Africa.
2. Travelers can easily protect themselves by making certain their vaccinations are up-to-date.
3. We are here to assist our clients; the safety and well-being of our clients is our top priority.
Below you will find additional information, supporting material, and statistics supporting each talking point.
1. Measles is still very common in many parts of the world, including areas in Europe, Asia, the Pacific and Africa.
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued Watch Level 1 advisories for measles in France, as well as Democratic Republic of the Congo.
o A Watch Level 1 travel health notice from the CDC is the lowest of three advisories it issues, meaning it recommends travelers “practice usual precautions” – in this case, it means being vaccinated for measles prior to traveling.
o The CDC also currently has a Watch Level 1 for measles in Belgium, Germany, Guinea, Indonesia, Italy, and Romania.
A recent outbreak in France necessitated the Watch Level 1 advisory.
o According the French Tribune, “France is following in the footsteps of Italy by making vaccination compulsory. This is due to the rising cases of measles, a situation that has been referred to by health officials as unacceptable. In January and February 2017, nearly 80 cases were reported. For this reason, the ministry of health has announced that from 2018, parents will have the legal obligation of ensuring that their children are vaccinated.”
“Between 2008 and 2016, over 24,000 measles cases were reported in France. Of these, more than 1,500 had severe complications, while there were 10 deaths.”
o Much of the French measles outbreak is attributed to misinformation about the MMR vaccine.
“While measles is no longer endemic in 37 European countries, according to the WHO, ‘remaining pockets of low immunisation coverage allow the highly contagious virus to spread among those who choose not to vaccinate, do not have equitable access to vaccines or cannot be protected through vaccination due to underlying health conditions’,” said The Independent.
Measles continues to be an ongoing public health issue worldwide, as well. The World Health Organization (WHO) reported that, as of July 12, 2017, there have been:
o 2,774 laboratory confirmed cases of measles in the African region
o 154 laboratory confirmed cases in the Americas region
o 3,938 laboratory confirmed cases in the Eastern Mediterranean region
o 4,534 laboratory confirmed cases in the European region
o 3,952 laboratory confirmed cases in the South-East Asia Region
o 3,763 laboratory confirmed cases in the Western Pacific region
The majority of measles cases that are brought into the United States come from unvaccinated U.S. residents or visitors.
Clinicians should keep measles in mind when treating patients with fever and rash, especially if the patient has recently traveled internationally.
2. Travelers can easily protect themselves by making certain their vaccinations are up-to-date.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): “Measles is a highly contagious respiratory disease caused by a virus. It spreads through the air through coughing and sneezing. Measles starts with a fever, runny nose, cough, red eyes, and sore throat, and is followed by a rash that spreads all over the body.”
According to the CDC, “Travelers who have not been vaccinated are at risk of getting the disease and spreading it to their friends and family members who may not be up-to-date with vaccinations. Because of this risk, all travelers should be up-to-date on their vaccinations, regardless of where they are going.”
In the U.S., the vaccines that are available are the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) and the measles-mumps-rubella-varicella (MMRV) vaccines.
o The CDC states: “MMR has been used safely and effectively since the 1970s. A few people experience mild, temporary adverse reactions, such as joint pain, from the vaccine, but serious side effects are extremely rare. There is no link between MMR and autism.”
Both children and adults who are traveling should be vaccinated. The CDC offers the following guidelines:
o Routine vaccination for children in the U.S. is between 12-15 months, but younger children traveling outside of the U.S. can receive the vaccine starting at six months old.
o Children 12 months or older, adolescents, and adults who are traveling outside the United States must have received two doses of MMR or other live measles-containing vaccine to be considered immune to measles.
o Also, those who have had the diagnosis of measles documented by a physician, have laboratory evidence of immunity, or were born before 1957 are considered immune.
3. We are here to assist our clients; the safety and well-being of our clients is our top priority.
We would not send our clients to a particular destination if we believed it to be unsafe or were unable to provide precautions to minimize risks. Should we become aware of an issue for a specific destination, we alert clients who may be planning to travel there and provide detailed information on the situation so they can make informed decisions for themselves if they still wish to travel.
The CDC has issued Watch Level 1 health notices urging travelers to practice usual precautions when visiting Indonesia, Romania and Guinea. Additional measles cases have been reported worldwide.
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By working with a true travel professional, we assist our clients by consulting on the ideal vacation experience they are looking for and providing alternative destinations should the need arise.