NEW YORK (AP) – U.S. health officials have revised their guidance for international travelers regarding measles, advising Americans to be aware of the virus wherever they travel.
As a precaution, U.S. residents are urged to receive the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine. Previously, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) highlighted the necessity of vaccinations for travelers heading to regions where measles is prevalent.
The CDC updated its recommendations last week, indicating in this guidance that all travelers to other countries should also be vaccinated.
Ashley Darcy Mahoney, a researcher at George Washington University’s School of Nursing, characterized the update as significant.
She pointed to a Colorado outbreak stemming from an international flight that arrived in Denver last month. The adjustments in the CDC’s travel notice reflect a growing understanding that individuals are at risk of exposure to measles not only in areas where it is spreading but also during air travel.
“We are seeing a shift from local outbreaks to transmission during transit,” said Darcy Mahoney regarding the CDC’s response.
The travel notification advises all Americans aged 1 and older to receive two doses of the vaccine. Early doses are suggested for infants traveling between the ages of 6 and 11 months. The U.S. has reported over 1,000 measles cases so far this year.
___
The Associated Press School of Health Sciences is supported by the Howard Hughes Medical Institution’s Science and Education Media Group and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. AP is solely responsible for all content.
Source: apnews.com