Measles - Mumps - Rubella

Measles is a highly contagious viral disease that causes up to 875,000 deaths annually around the world. Measles associated symptoms include fever; generalized, blotchy rash; runny nose and white spots in the mouth. Transmission occurs primarily through respiratory droplets and all non-immunized travelers are at high risk of exposure outside the United States.

Mumps is an acute viral disease characterized by fever, swelling and tenderness of at least one salivary gland. Travelers' at risk of infection can be high since many countries do not use the Mumps vaccine routinely.

Rubella is another acute viral disease that usually affects susceptible individuals of any age. Rubella is prevalent worldwide and the risk of exposure outside the United States is high. Rubella is associated with significant morbidity in adults and high rates of miscarriage and anomalies of congenital Rubella syndrome if contracted in the first trimester of pregnancy.

The Measles/Mumps/Rubella vaccine (MMR) is recommended for all travelers over 12 months of age and each of the two doses should be separated by at least 28 days prior to departing the United States. Travelers who have received the MMR vaccine should avoid pregnancy for one month following immunization.

Source: CDC Vaccine Information Statement (VIS): MMR Vaccine (3/13/08) 42 U.S.C. §300aa-26

So, if you need the MMR vaccine for work, school, or travel, or are asking yourself, "what shots do I need?" click here to locate the location nearest you in Miami-Dade County, or call 305-642-9889.

You can also click here to learn more about diseases and vaccines that may impact your trip.

The article below was written by Dr. Larry Madoff, editor of the epidemiological news service, ProMED Mail, a program of the International Society of Infectious Diseases. Dr. Madoff is an Associate Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School.

MEASLES MAKES A COMEBACK

Once nearly eradicated in much of the developed world, measles outbreaks are becoming more frequent in 2011. They are the result of increased global travel, lower rates of vaccination in poorer counties – and parents choosing not to vaccinate their children in the U.S., Europe and elsewhere because of the now widely discredited myth that the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine causes autism.

Whenever people are on the move, there are risks of infectious diseases moving with them.

Vigilant surveillance remains our best strategy for rapid response, and the ProMED mail network remains the best – the fastest and most reliable – provider of that vigilance.

Measles kills an estimated 165,000 people each year, mostly in poor countries. Since January, however, measles outbreaks reported on ProMED mail have occurred not only in poorer nations such as Bangladesh, Somalia, and Pakistan, but in such countries as France, Spain, England, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and within the U.S. from Massachusetts to Utah, Minnesota to New Jersey. An outbreak of measles in the Canary Islands and several South American countries, in fact, appears to be the result of unvaccinated British and German tourists bringing the disease to their shores.

While vaccines are the best way to prevent a disease like measles, vigilant surveillance remains our best strategy to slow disease spread when vaccines are unavailable -- or people refuse to use them.

Larry Madoff, Editor
ProMED Mail

May 24, 2011