Colorado advises people to get measles vaccine if traveling

Colorado’s health department is advising people who travel overseas or to parts of the U.S. where there are measles outbreaks to make sure they have the vaccine and are protected against the highly contagious disease.

The advisory comes as the U.S. is experiencing a record number of measles cases since the disease was declared eliminated in 2000.

As of May 10, there have been 839 confirmed measles cases in 23 states, according to the national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

“It’s essential to know your vaccination or immunity status if you are planning to travel to areas where measles outbreaks have been reported,” said Dr. Rachel Herlihy, state communicable disease epidemiologist, in a statement Tuesday. “Measles, once considered eliminated in the U.S., has made a comeback.”

In Colorado, there has only been one confirmed case of measles, which occurred after a Denver resident traveled abroad this year. However, health experts have said the state’s low vaccination rate makes Colorado vulnerable to a possible outbreak.

Symptoms of measles can include high fever, cough, runny nose, watery eyes and a rash. Complications from the illness, which can include pneumonia and hospitalization, are most common in children under 5 years old and in adults older than 20, according to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.

Health officials recommend all children get both doses of the MMR — or measles, mumps and rubella — vaccine, with the first one at 12 to 15 months of age. The second dose can be given at 4 to 6 years.

Adults should be protected against measles if they received at least one dose of the MMR vaccine on or after their first birthday. However, high-risk individuals — such as health care workers, university students and those traveling — are encouraged to have two doses, according to the news release.

Others who should have two doses of the MMR vaccine include people with compromised immune systems and their families. Those without measles immunity, which includes people who had measles in the past, should also have two doses of the vaccine before traveling, the health department said.

Individuals who were vaccinated before 1968 may need to receive at least one dose of MMR because the previous measles vaccine was not as effective as the current one, the news release said.

The health department advises people traveling to check their vaccination records to make sure they have received the MMR vaccine. If a person is unsure if they are vaccinated or immune to measles, a person can get a blood test to find out, the health department said.

“As you make your plans for travel, ensure checking vaccination records is on your list,” Herlihy said. “We encourage everyone, regardless of travel, to be up to date on all recommended vaccines.”