Causes, Risk Factors, And Complications Of Measles

International Travel

Any unprotected individual who is engaging in international travel will be at a significantly higher risk of contracting measles. While this viral infection is uncommon in the United States, it is a common disease in other parts of the world. Individuals who are unvaccinated and travel outside of the country are likely to bring it back to their home. Approximately a fourth of all individuals diagnosed with measles have contracted it through traveling internationally. Countries located in Africa, Asia, and the Pacific have the highest prevalence of the measles infection as of the present day. Popular travel destinations in Europe have shown new breakouts just in the past few years. Vessels of travel such as aircraft and cruise ships may be especially vulnerable to becoming contaminated with the measles virus. When an individual travels internationally and contracts the measles, they bring it back into their community where others who are unable to get vaccinated can contract it. Individuals who have cancer, children under twelve months old, and individuals on immunosuppressant therapy are generally ineligible to have the MMR vaccine that would protect from contracting measles.

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