Planning a summer trip abroad? If you or your children aren’t fully vaccinated against measles, you could be bringing home more than just souvenirs. While measles cases have been decreasing in some areas, international travel remains a significant risk factor for spreading this highly contagious disease. Experts warn that travel can reignite outbreaks and increase case numbers in communities with low vaccination rates.
Since the start of the year, there have been several large measles outbreaks in various states, including Texas, which alone has reported hundreds of cases along with hospitalizations and deaths. Multiple other states have experienced outbreaks, making the current year one of the worst for measles since it was declared eliminated in the U.S. in 2000.
Many of these outbreaks are linked to international travel. When an unvaccinated or partially vaccinated traveler visits a country where measles is still prevalent, they risk catching the virus and bringing it back home, where it can spread rapidly among unprotected populations. This cycle highlights the ongoing threat measles poses, especially during travel seasons.
Understanding Measles: A Highly Contagious Disease
Measles is among the most infectious diseases known. The virus spreads through respiratory droplets when an infected person coughs or sneezes and can linger on surfaces for up to two hours. If you are not vaccinated and come into contact with someone infected, your chances of catching measles are extremely high—around 90%.
Though measles is often associated with children, it can affect people of all ages, especially those who lack immunity. International airports and airplanes are common places where infections can occur, due to close proximity and high traffic of travelers from diverse regions.
Protecting Yourself When Traveling Abroad
The only sure way to protect yourself from measles when traveling internationally is through vaccination or natural immunity. The standard recommendation is to receive two doses of the measles-containing vaccine. This can be the MMR vaccine (measles, mumps, and rubella) or the MMRV vaccine, which also includes protection against chickenpox.
The second dose should ideally be administered at least two weeks before traveling. For infants aged 6 to 11 months, one dose is recommended prior to travel, but this dose does not replace the regular two-dose series given later in childhood. Babies under 6 months are generally not eligible for vaccination but may receive some temporary protection if their mother was vaccinated.
People born before 1957 are typically considered immune due to natural exposure to the virus during childhood, as measles was widespread before vaccines became available.
What If You Can’t Get the Measles Vaccine?
Some individuals cannot receive the vaccine due to weakened immune systems, such as those undergoing chemotherapy, radiation, or organ transplants. For these people, traveling—especially to areas experiencing outbreaks or parts of the U.S. with current cases—poses serious health risks. For young children under five, the risks are even greater due to the possibility of severe complications.
If vaccination is not an option, it is crucial to consult your healthcare provider before traveling. They can help assess your individual risk and discuss precautions. When travel cannot be avoided, ensure that all your travel companions are fully vaccinated and practice strict hygiene measures. These include frequent handwashing, avoiding touching your face, disinfecting surfaces, and wearing masks in crowded or enclosed places.
In cases where exposure to measles is suspected, post-exposure treatments like immunoglobulin may be given within six days to reduce symptoms or provide some protection, though these do not replace vaccination.
Unsure About Your Vaccination Status?
If you are unsure whether you have been vaccinated or received the full two doses, getting an additional dose is safe and often recommended. While antibody tests exist to check immunity, they are not always reliable or routinely necessary. For simplicity and safety, many health professionals suggest just getting vaccinated again rather than trying to confirm past immunization records.
If You Think You’ve Been Exposed
Measles has an incubation period of up to two weeks after exposure before symptoms appear. Early signs can mimic a common cold or flu, including fever, runny nose, cough, and red, watery eyes. Later, a distinctive red, bumpy rash develops, often accompanied by small white spots inside the mouth known as Koplik’s spots.
If you suspect you have been exposed to measles or start showing symptoms, contact a healthcare provider immediately. Diagnosis may involve testing, and if confirmed, isolation is necessary to prevent spreading the infection. Individuals with measles are contagious from about four days before the rash appears to four days after it disappears.
Measles remains a real threat, especially in the context of international travel. Staying informed, vaccinated, and cautious can help protect you, your loved ones, and your community from this highly contagious disease.
