Measles Outbreak in Ukraine Earns CDC Alert

The U.S. Embassy in Kyiv, Ukraine and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)  have issued a travel warning for U.S. citizens visiting Ukraine.

The CDC recommends that all travelers to Ukraine protect themselves with routine vaccines, especially the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine.

Ukraine is now classified as a measles “endemic transmission” country due to a low MMR vaccination rate.

In 2016, only 45% of children in Ukraine were vaccinated against measles.

Additionally, only 30% of children received a repeated dose of the vaccine needed for a stronger immunity from the disease.

The most recent 2017 information shows that as of the end of July, Ukraine has reported 1,386 cases of measles.  This compared with just 10 cases during 2016.

The Ivano-Frankivsk and Odessa regions have reported the most measles cases during 2017.

Getting measles vaccine is particularly important for infants 6–11 months of age (1 dose of measles vaccine) and children 1 year of age or older (2 doses of measles vaccine).

Clinicians should keep measles in mind when treating patients with fever and rash, especially if the patient has recently traveled internationally.

In addition to ensuring vaccines are up to date, they recommend frequent handwashing and avoid touching your mouth, nose, or eyes.

Measles is a disease caused by a virus that is spread through the air by breathing, coughing, or sneezing. Measles virus is highly contagious and can remain so for up to 2 hours in the air or on surfaces. Symptoms of measles are rash, high fever, cough, runny nose, and red, watery eyes.

Dr Zsuzsanna Jakab, the WHO Regional Director for Europe said “Today’s travel patterns put no person or country beyond the reach of the measles virus. Outbreaks will continue in Europe, as elsewhere, until every country reaches the level of immunization needed to fully protect their populations.”

Two-thirds of the Region’s 53 countries have interrupted endemic transmission of measles.

The CDC’s American Council on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommends that all U.S. international travelers be immunized for measles before departure in order to limit the importation of the disease into the U.S.

The CDC estimates that 146,000 people around the world will die from measles each year, mostly children.

Of U.S. adult travelers who presented for pre-travel consultation, 16 percent met criteria for measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccination, but fewer than 50 percent of these travelers were vaccinated.

Immunity is achieved by receiving two lifetime doses of the MMR vaccine, with additional markers of immunity including a positive measles serology or physician documented history of measles illness, according to the study.

“Your pharmacist and doctor are great resources, so I encourage everyone to reach out to them if you have travel vaccination questions,’ said Rannon Ching, Pharm.D, a vaccine specialist at Tarrytown Pharmacy in Austin, Texas.

“Getting immunized goes a long way to eliminate Measles at home and abroad,” said Ching.

This interactive map highlights global outbreaks of measles, mumps, rubella, polio, and whooping cough from 2008-2017. These diseases are easily prevented by vaccines.

In the USA, Merck is the manufacturer of two measles vaccinations. MMR and ProQuad both contain the protection for mumps, as well as protection for measles and rubella.

The ProQuad vaccine is indicated for active immunization for the prevention of measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella in children 12 months through 12 years of age.

Additionally, when traveling to Europe, the diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis, varicella (chickenpox), polio, and influenza vaccines are recommended by the CDC.

The CDC Vaccine Price List provides the private sector vaccine prices for general information.

Most pharmacies offer the MMR vaccine, and vaccine discounts can be found at this webpage.