CDC issues travel notice for Romania due to measles outbreak

As of the end of October, Romanian health officials have recorded approximately 1,000 measles cases, this compares to seven cases in 2015.

The outbreak in Romania has prompted the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to issue a travel alert for Americans going to the southeastern European country.

CDC recommends that travelers to Romania protect themselves by making sure they are vaccinated against measles, particularly infants 6–11 months of age (1 dose of measles vaccine) and children 12 months 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.

Two doses of MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccine is nearly 100% effective at preventing measles. MMR has been used safely and effectively since the 1970s. A few people experience mild, temporary adverse reactions, such as joint pain, from the vaccine, but serious side effects are extremely rare. There is no known link between MMR and autism.

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