Americans urged to get MMR vaccine in wake of “record-breaking” European measles outbreak
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The American Academy of Pediatrics medical journal on Monday recommended to all U.S. citizens ” to take all the recommended vaccinations, including measles through the MMR vaccine, before traveling abroad.”
The appeal comes in the wake of what researchers are describing as a “record-breaking” measles outbreak in the World Health Organization’s (WHO) European Region.
The WHO European Region comprises 53 countries, from Andorra to Ukraine. According to data from the WHO, 41,000 measles cases were reported from January to June 2018 across those countries, including 37 deaths — a record-high number of fatalities since the 1990s.
Ukraine logged the most cases, with at least 23,000 reported; Serbia reported the most deaths. At one point, the study notes, measles cases in both countries exceeded 600 per 1 million people.
Researchers say low immunization rates are primarily to blame for the uptick in measles cases, which have been able to spread to other countries, including the U.S. Of the 336 U.S. measles cases reported last year through December 20, 2018, 40 originated in Europe and 12 of those cases led to stateside outbreaks.
The study urges travelers to consult with a physician before traveling abroad and cite the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices when recommending vaccinations to children under 1 year of age.
