Travellers jetting off abroad are being advised to be vigilant for certain health symptoms that might signal a widespread infectious disease. Guidance issued on the Canada.ca website, cautions travellers that lack of vaccination could pose health risks to fellow holidaymakers and local individuals.
It warns: “Measles cases and outbreaks still happen in Canada. Cases usually occur here when an individual who is not vaccinated travels to or comes from a country where measles is circulating. It can then spread in Canada among people who are un-vaccinated or not immune from a previous infection.”
Some early signs and symptoms to look out for include a fever, a cough, a runny nose as well as sore, watery eyes. As well as this, about three to seven days following the first symptoms, you may notice a rash on the face. It can also appear anywhere on the body, including limbs.
This rash manifests as red splotches and mottled areas that may persist for four to seven days. On darker skin tones, the reddish hue may be less noticeable, appearing instead as purple or a deeper shade than the surrounding skin.
As well as the warning signs and symptoms, people should be aware that some people will be at higher risk of developing severe complications from measles. This includes:
- children less than five years of age, especially infants who are too young to be vaccinated
- people who are pregnant
- people with weakened immune systems
Despite being rare, severe complications can result in deafness and brain injury caused by inflammation of the brain. This can be fatal.
You’re at risk of getting measles if you have been exposed to measles and aren’t immune. To be immune, you must:
- be vaccinated or
- have had a laboratory-confirmed measles infection before or have laboratory evidence of immunity to measles
The experts further warn that “measles is very contagious” with “over 90 percent of people who aren’t immune to measles and who come into contact with the virus can become infected”.
Individuals infected with measles can transmit the virus to others even before the rash appears and often before they are aware they have even contracted measles. It is crucial for parents to ensure that their child receives vaccines containing measles as per the vaccination schedule of their province or territory.
You can find out more information on Measles via the NHS website here as well as how you can get your vaccine. The NHS say that the MMR vaccine can prevent measles however it also protects you from mumps and rubella.
In the UK, the MMR vaccine is available to all children. Two doses are known to provide lifelong immunity against measles, mumps, and rubella. If you’re uncertain whether you or your child has received the vaccine, inquire at your GP surgery. The vaccine is administered free of charge through the NHS.