Fending Off Measles While Traveling

The Measles outbreak has hit a 5-year high in Hong Kong¹ and also raging across neighboring regions, including some of our favorite tourist destinations like Japan and South Korea. With the upcoming Easter holiday a peak season for traveling, be sure to protect yourself by paying attention to the following tips for a secure and enjoyable journey.

What are the high-risk areas of measles outbreaks?

Measles has become an endemic disease in Europe and some Southeast Asian countries including the Philippines, Japan, Vietnam and Thailand, while Ukraine in Europe and Madagascar in Africa are severely affected.² Make sure you are still immune to measles before traveling to these areas.

Some of the risk factors for measles include being unvaccinated, travelling internationally and having a vitamin A deficiency.³

How do people at high risk prevent measles?

We need two doses of measles vaccine in order for the protection rate to reach 97%. If you were born between the years 1967-1977 and 1978-1984, it is very likely you have only taken one dose of vaccine. Therefore, you are at higher risk of being infected by measles.⁴ You should consider taking a vaccination if you intend to go to an area where measles strikes. Take a blood test first if you are not sure about your history of vaccination.

Where can I get measles vaccination?

You can go to a private clinic in Hong Kong to inject a measles, mumps and German measles (MMR) vaccine. The cost ranges from about HK$400 to HK$800. If you choose to vaccinate the MMRV vaccine, that is, the vaccine together with chickenpox, the cost is about $1,000.⁵

Am I eligible for receiving vaccination?

Several types of people are not eligible for measles vaccination.⁶ They include:

• Pregnant women
• Women who are planning to become pregnant: avoid becoming pregnant for 1 month after vaccination
• Children under the age of one
• Patients with chronic diseases such as cancer or blood problems
• People who are severely allergic to vaccines

Remember to consult your doctor if you are not sure about your condition. Here are more preventive measures for Healthy Travel with Children.  

Sources:

1. South China Morning Post - Measles outbreak in Hong Kong hits 5-year high, as Cathay employee is one of the latest to go down with highly contagious disease
2. Unicef - Alarming global surge of measles cases a growing threat to children
3. Mayo Clinic - Measles
4. Centre for Health Protection - Know more about measles
5. HK01 - About Measles
6. NHS -Who should have the MMR vaccine?