These tips provide important information about disease risks in Travel Health Tips for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games and China destination web pages. …
In the News
2008 Measles Update
This information is current as of today, June 12, 2008 at 16:51
Updated: April 11, 2008
Measles remains a common disease in many parts of the world For many US
travelers, the risk for exposure to measles can be high, but the illness
can be prevented by the MMR measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine
Worldwide, more than 20 million people are affected by measles each year;i
of these cases, 242,000 result in deathii Currently, numerous measles
outbreaks are ongoing worldwide, including outbreaks in Switzerland and
Israel, which have resulted in cases imported into the US However, in
2007, the majority of imported cases in the United States were linked to
India and Japan
Announcement
Important Vaccines for Summer 2008 International Travel
This information is current as of today, June 12, 2008 at 16:49
Updated: June 09, 2008
Information for Travelers
Summer is here, and many people will be packing to travel No matter where
you travel abroad this summer, please dont let your vacation be spoiled by
getting the measles, flu, hepatitis, or any other infection that could have
been prevented by using routine or travel-related vaccines
Why would this summer
be any different from other years? Apart from the
usual travel-related health risks, there are two international sports
events this summer that are expected to increase travel from the US to
specific places in Europe and Asia People from many other countries will
also attend these events The locations of these events in Europe and Asia
and the fact that they will be visited by crowds of people from all over
the world make it important for travelers to be sure they are up-to-date on
all routine and travel-related vaccines
EURO 2008 Soccer Games
The Union of European Football Associations UEFA European Championship is
being held in Austria and Switzerland during June 7-29, 2008 Travelers
going to Austria or Switzerland for these games should be up-to-date on all
routine vaccines, especially measles vaccine This year, over 2,800 people
have been reported as being sick with measles in several European
countries, including Austria and Switzerland If you are traveling to this
event, read the travel health information on the CDC Austria and
Switzerland destination pages and the news item on the official UEFA EURO
2008 website: Swiss recommend MMR vaccine for visitors Then talk to
your
doctor to make sure you are up-to-date with your vaccinations
2008 Beijing Olympic and Paralympic Games
Did you know that 600,000 foreign visitors and athletes and up to 25
million domestic visitors and volunteers are expected to attend the 2008
Beijing Olympic and Paralympic Games? If youre planning to be one of them,
its a good idea to become familiar with the health and safety tips on the
Travelers Health Gold Medal Travel Health Tips for the 2008 Beijing
Olympic Games and China destination web pages These tips provide important
information about disease risks in China and how to prevent them
There is also a risk of acquiring measles in China During 2008, several US
residents have gotten sick with measles as a result of traveling to China
or because they were in contact with a visitor from China Also, many
people going to the games will be coming from countries where measles is
more common than in the US If you are traveling to the Olympic or
Paralympic Games, CDC recommends that you talk to your doctor to be sure
that you are protected against measles and up-to-date on all recommended
vaccines, including those recommended routinely and those recommended
when
traveling
Summary of Advice for Travelers
If you are traveling to one of these sports events•or anywhere else•this
summer, talk to your doctor to make sure you are up-to-date with your
vaccinations If you are traveling with children, be sure that they have
been vaccinated, too
Check the CDC Travelers Health recommendations for the country you are
visiting by going to the Destinations page and searching for that country
from the list or map
If you are going to the Olympics or Paralympics, read the information on
the Gold Medal Travel Health Tips for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games and
China destination web pages
Read the travel notices posted on the Travelers Health website for the
countries where the two sports events will take place
In the News Notice
2008 Measles Update
Outbreak Notices
Hand, foot, and mouth disease in Asia
Update: Dengue, Tropical and Subtropical Regions
Human Infection with Avian Influenza A H5N1 Virus: Advice for
Travelers
After you return home, if you develop a fever, cough, red eyes, runny nose
and a red, raised rash that begins on the face and spreads to the arms and
legs, you should see your doctor and explain that
you have recently
traveled
Additional Information for Health-Care Professionals
There is a heightened concern for disease exposure of travelers to the
locations and mass gatherings of the major sporting events this summer and
the ongoing risk of measles in these countries
Measles: A particular concern
Measles outbreaks in Europe and Asia have been documented in the following
resources:
European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control ECDC
ECDC warns of an upsurge of measles in Europe: unvaccinated people are
at risk April 10, 2008
An ongoing multistate outbreak of measles linked to non-immune
anthroposophic communities in Austria, Germany, and Norway, March-
April 2008 Eurosurveillance, 1316 Article 4, April 27, 2008
US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Measles — United States, January 1–April 25, 2008 MMWR 5718;494-
498, May 9,2008
In the News travel notice: 2008 Measles Update
Pre-travel assessment: Travelers should have evidence of immunity to
measles, which includes one of the following:
1 Documented administration of 2 doses of live measles-containing
vaccine at least 28 days apart, on or after the first
birthday
2 Laboratory evidence of immunity
3 Birth before 1957
4 Documentation of physician-diagnosed measles
If a traveler does not meet one of the criteria above, measles vaccination
should be given
Pre-travel measles vaccination:
Children 12 months or older
o The 2-dose measles or MMR vaccine schedule is recommended in
the US at age 12-15 months first dose and age 4-6 years
second dose However, for all children traveling or living
overseas, the age of measles vaccination should be lowered if
needed see below for guidelines
Children 6“11 months of age
o One dose of single-antigen measles vaccine before travel, if
available If it is not available, a dose of MMR vaccine can be
given
o Note: measles or MMR vaccines given before 12 months of age
should not be counted as part of the series Children who
receive measles or MMR vaccines before age 12 months will need 2
more doses of MMR vaccine, the first of which should be
administered at 12“15 months of age 12 months if the child
remains in a high-risk area, and the second
at least 28 days
later
Adults
o Should receive 2 doses of MMR or measles vaccine, separated by
at least 28 days
Refer to the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices ACIP
recommendations for measles, mumps, and rubella
Post-travel consideration: If a patient develops fever, cough, red eyes,
runny nose and a red, raised rash that begins on the face and spreads to
the arms and legs, a full travel and vaccination history should be obtained
and the diagnosis of measles should be considered
Recommended Vaccinations
Health-care professionals should ensure that travelers are up-to-date on
the following vaccinations Links for each disease connect to the
corresponding section in CDC Health Information for International Travel
2008
Routine Vaccinations
Influenza
Measles or measles/mumps/rubella MMR
Diphtheria/pertussis/tetanus DPT, dTap
Poliovirus
Varicella chickenpox
Pneumococcal disease for those in the respective risk groups
Travel-Related Vaccines
Considered for all travelers to developing countries:
Hepatitis A
Hepatitis B
Typhoid
Considered for travelers who plan to visit certain destinations:
Japanese
Encephalitis
Meningococcal
Rabies
Yellow Fever
Also see the Vaccines and Vaccine-Preventable Diseases website for
additional vaccine information National Center for Immunization and
Respiratory Diseases website Armed with this information, health-care
professionals can work together with their traveling patients to ensure a
safe and healthy summer travel season and prevent the translocation of
communicable diseases
