Travel Health Update from On Call’s Chief Medical Officer: Measles

With recent outbreaks bringing measles back into focus, it’s crucial for travelers to stay informed. On Call’s Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Michelle Nathan, offers expert insights on what measles is, how it spreads, and the vital precautions travelers should take to protect themselves while traveling internationally.

What is Measles and What are the Symptoms?
Measles is a highly contagious respiratory disease that is caused by a virus. Though anyone can be affected by measles, measles can cause serios complications in children younger than age 5, pregnant women, and people with weakened immune systems. Measles symptoms appear 7 to 14 days after contact with the virus. Symptoms of measles begin with fever, cough, runny nose (coryza) and conjunctivitis (pink eye).  After 2-4 days, patients develop a rash that begins as flat red spots, usually on the face that spread downward to the neck, trunk, arms, and legs. Common complications of measles include ear infections and diarrhea.  Severe complications include pneumonia and encephalitis.

How Does Measles Spread?
Measles is highly contagious. Measles spreads through the air when an infected person breathes, coughs or sneezes. Measles can stay in the air or on surfaces for up to 2 hours after the infected person leaves the area. If one person has measles, they spread it to an average of 9 people who are not protected by the MMR vaccine. For comparison, seasonal influenza will spread from an infected person to another 1-2 people on average.

Measles was declared eliminated from the United States in 2000. However, measles is still common in many parts of the world. Every year, measles is brought into the United States by unvaccinated travelers who get measles while they are in other countries. These travelers are mostly Americans and sometimes international visitors. The risk for widespread measles in the United States remains low due to robust immunization and surveillance programs.

How Can Travelers Prevent Measles?
The best protection against measles is the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine. Two doses of the MMR vaccine are highly effective at preventing measles and provide long-lasting protection. Those who have the vaccine yet still become infected will have a milder illness and are also less likely to spread the disease to other people.  Travelers should plan to be fully vaccinated 2 weeks before they travel.

Travelers who have not been vaccinated with the MMR and are exposed to someone with measles are recommended to get a dose of MMR urgently. Getting the MMR vaccine within 72 hours of initially being exposed to measles provides individuals protection against the disease and can reduce the severity of illness. In other cases, individuals may be given a medicine called immunoglobulin (IG) within 6 days of being exposed to measles. This provides some protection against the disease and can reduce the severity of illness.

In the event you or one of your travelers experiences measles symptoms, On Call travelers can rest assured they can contact us for 24/7 global emergency assistance. Contact us today to learn more.

About On Call International:
When traveling, every problem is unique–a medical crisis, a political threat, even a common accident such as a missed flight. But every solution starts with customized care that ensures travelers are safe and protected. That’s why for over 30 years, On Call International has provided fully-customized travel risk management and emergency assistance services protecting millions of travelers, their families, and their organizations. Visit www.oncallinternational.com and follow us on LinkedIn to learn more.