Individuals infected with measles, a very infectious illness, are flying on planes, which is causing worries regarding the potential dissemination of the airborne virus.
global cases rise
As the summer travel season begins in the United States.
The CDC is alerting individuals that they can contract measles when traveling or attending large gatherings, provided they haven’t been completely immunized or previously afflicted with the illness.
“Measles transmission can occur for travelers across various scenarios such as transit centers including airports and railway stations, during journeys via public transport like planes and trains, within popular sightseeing locations, and amid sizable gatherings with high attendance,” according to the CDC statement.
updated advisory
Tuesday.
For individuals planning summer trips or attending concerts, the CDC along with healthcare professionals advise that vaccination is the most effective method to ensure safety.
“If you’re completely immunized against measles, I don’t believe this should be something for you to worry about this summer,” he stated.
Jennifer Nuzzo
, who leads the Pandemic Center at the Brown University School of Public Health.
Below is important information regarding the advisory, how measles spreads, and steps you can take for your protection.
What does the CDC’s revised warning entail?
A spokesperson stated that the agency has recorded 62 instances of individuals diagnosed with measles who traveled via airplane this year. Out of these, they examined 50 cases involving passengers either arriving in or moving within the country and discovered only one instance where measles seemed to be passed on during air travel, as mentioned in their email.
The United States is currently facing the largest measles epidemic since 2020. Up until Thursday,
1,088 confirmed measles cases
And three verified fatalities have been reported across 32 states, as per the CDC.
“We might be headed towards having one of the worst measles outbreaks in the past 25 years since we eradicated the disease,” Nuzzo stated.
The agency suggests that all international travelers, including babies aged 6 to 11 months, should receive the MMR vaccine for measles, mumps, and rubella.
MMR
, provide them with a vaccine if they lack proof of immunity since it offers the strongest protection against the extremely infectious virus. The majority of individuals in the U.S. received these vaccinations during childhood, but some might not have done so.
A measles vaccine booster could benefit certain adults.
.
The CDC stated in their advisory that “Many individuals bringing measles into the United States are unvaccinated American travelers who become infected during trips abroad.”
How does measles spread?
According to Nuzzo, measles ranks among the most contagious illnesses. This condition can be serious for people of all ages and may result in potentially fatal complications like pneumonia and even death. Common signs include a rash – typically the definitive indicator of infection – along with high fever, coughing, a running nose, and reddened, teary eyes.
The virus can rapidly disseminate partly due to the fact that initially, the infection might resemble a typical cold or other respiratory ailments, as stated by experts.
William Moss
, who serves as the executive director of the International Vaccine Access Center at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
Infected individuals can spread
measles
According to the CDC, up to four days before or after the onset of the rash.
According to the CDC, the virus spreads via coughs and sneezes and can survive for as long as two hours either in the air or on surfaces. “When we sneeze or cough, larger droplets carry the virus, which may remain airborne for an hour or two before settling into finer particles,” explained Moss, who is also a professor of epidemiology at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
According to the CDC, infection can occur if you inhale the contaminated air or come into contact with an infected surface and subsequently touch your eyes, nose, or mouth.
What steps should I take to safeguard myself prior to going on a trip?
Healthcare professionals stated that the MMR vaccine offers the best defense against the measles virus, as well as providing protection against mumps and rubella.
However, there is proof that vaccination rates are declining in certain areas across the U.S. since the start of the pandemic, which has led to broader concerns.
decline
In regards to MMR vaccine coverage among children, as stated in a communication piece released Monday in JAMA.
Children could get the
Measles, Mumps, Rubella, and Varicella (MMRV) vaccination
, which also safeguards against chickenpox, according to the CDC.
The organization suggests that babies between 6 and 11 months of age receive a single dose of the MMR vaccine at least fourteen days prior to traveling. Additionally, they should be administered two further doses once they reach 1 year—first between 12 to 15 months, followed by another between 4 to 6 years.
The CDC advised in its warning that children aged 12 months and older, as well as teenagers and adults with uncertain measles immunity, should get two doses of the MMR vaccine spaced at least 28 days apart prior to traveling internationally.
What are the chances of contracting measles when flying on an airplane?
Nuzzo mentioned that contracting the virus on an airplane is feasible, but her primary concern lies with unvaccinated individuals journeying to regions experiencing active measles outbreaks.
Not to mention that contracting it from an airplane isn’t out of the question,” Nuzzo stated. “However, the likelihood of being seated beside someone with measles during a flight is significantly less compared to visiting locations where measles cases are prevalent.
The danger associated with flying mainly stems from the people you encounter at your destination rather than the journey itself. According to Nuzzo, simply traveling or being on an aircraft doesn’t pose significant risks.
She explained that the air inside the aircraft cabin gets filtered. Therefore, the main risk doesn’t come from someone seated far away but rather from being near a passenger infected with measles.
It’s a respiratory illness,” Nuzzo stated. “To decrease the chances of infection, wearing a mask could be helpful.
If you’re concerned about getting infected on an airplane, Nuzzo stated that the crucial moments for wearing a mask are during boarding and deplaning since the aircraft’s ventilation system might be inactive then. “However, both airports and planes aren’t inherently very high-risk environments,” she noted.
Nuzzo mentioned that she doesn’t clean surfaces during her flights. “Sometimes the surfaces seem quite dirty, and I frequently wish I had a disinfectant wipe, but my fear isn’t great enough for me to carry one,” she explained. “Ultimately, it comes down to how much risk you’re willing to take.”
What about airport terminals?
Individuals have contracted infections at airport terminals. Back in 2014, four people who were not vaccinated caught the virus after traveling through the same U.S. airport terminal.
contracted measles
“The exposures detailed in this report were brief and took place in a domestic terminal as opposed to an international one,” states a report released by the CDC.
We don’t require people to panic over venturing outdoors or into public areas,
Margot Savoy
A senior vice president at the American Academy of Family Physicians stated in an email, “While people shouldn’t panic, they should be conscious that measles has returned to the U.S., which had previously eradicated it. Although initially affecting just small groups without vaccinations, instances and exposures have been increasing nationwide.”
How early before traveling should I get my vaccinations?
If
You are uncertain about your immune protection.
Consult your physician at least six weeks prior to traveling to ensure ample time for complete vaccination, advised they.
Scott Roberts
, an assistant professor specializing in infectious diseases at the Yale School of Medicine.
Certain individuals, such as pregnant women, those with a compromised immune system, or anyone who has received other vaccinations within the last four weeks, fall into this category.
should not receive the MMR vaccine
Or they should wait, according to the CDC. “Individuals who cannot safely get a measles-containing vaccination should consult with their healthcare provider and think about rescheduling their travel,” the organization recommends.
Do I need an additional dose of the measles vaccine booster?
It hinges on your birth date, your vaccination history, and if you have plans for international travel.
Savoy stated in March that individuals born prior to 1957 are presumed to have had childhood exposure to measles.
Certain individuals who got vaccinated between 1963 and 1967 as adults (
less than 5 percent
, as per the CDC) might have been administered a version of the measles vaccine that is less potent.
Adam Ratner
, who leads the Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, stated in March. If you belong to that age group and are uncertain about which variant of the vaccine you received, the
CDC recommends
another dose.
Individuals who were born between 1968 and 1989 might have received only a single dosage of the measles vaccination, as opposed to the double regimen administered to kids nowadays. According to the CDC, a singular dose generally suffices for adults; however, they advise two dosages for those intending to travel abroad. Additionally, public health authorities could suggest an extra round of immunization for individuals should a localized measles epidemic occur.
Experts stated that if you received two doses of the measles vaccine, an extra dose won’t offer any more protection.
A person’s immunity from a measles vaccine might diminish with time, though this is uncommon, according to Ratner. More often, “primary vaccine failure” occurs, which means an individual does not develop protection after receiving one dose of the measles vaccine. That’s why kids receive a second dose—to make sure their bodies produce enough antibodies, as explained by Ratner.
There are lab tests that can measure a person’s antibody protection against measles, Savoy said. But the test may not be covered by insurance, and the results are only an approximate measurement of a person’s risk if they are exposed to the virus, she said.
If you’re not vaccinated and have come into contact with someone who has the virus, what steps should you take?
The CDC states that receiving the MMR vaccine within 72 hours after exposure can offer some protection or reduce symptoms, and it poses no risk; additionally, it might stop the development of the illness later on.
The health authority states that taking a drug known as immunoglobulin within six days after being exposed can offer some defense against measles or may result in making the disease less severe.
Regions where measles outbreaks have been documented
The CDC has reported cases in Alaska, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, and Washington State.
Worldwide, numerous nations have documented measles outbreaks, with significant ones occurring in Mexico and Canada, prompting the CDC to advise “getting vaccinated against measles prior to travel.”
any
international destination.”
Lena H. Sun was involved in contributing to this report.
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