Traveller vaccination measles
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Traveler Vaccination |
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1];Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Seyedmahdi Pahlavani, M.D. [2]
Overview
Protection against measles is not specific to the needs of travellers. In most countries measles vaccine is routinely administered in childhood. Missing vaccinations in travellers should be provided according to national recommendations.
Disease cause
Transmission
Primarily by airborne respiratory droplets. The virus is highly contagious.
Nature of the disease
Measles is mostly a mild disease of young children, characterized by fevers, cough, nasal congestion and a typical rash. The disease tends to be more serious in older children and adults. In infants and in individuals suffering from chronic diseases, impaired immunity or severe malnutrition measles may be serious or even fatal.
Geographical distribution
In the pre-vaccination area measles epidemics occurred world-wide. Following introduction of large-scale measles vaccination, indigenous transmission virtually stopped in many industrialized countries.
Risk for travellers
For non-immune travellers coming from areas without indigenous transmission of measles virus, the risk of exposure to measles is increased in an environment of insufficient vaccination coverage (rate <90%).
Vaccine
Live attenuated vaccine, available in 2 forms:
- Monovalent form (measles component only)
- Fixed combinations with one or more of vaccines against mumps, rubella and varicella.
Two intramuscular doses are administered at an interval of at least 4 weeks.