Health Canada issued a travel notice Thursday for travelers going to Europe in light of the current measles outbreak.
The following European countries have reported cases of measles in 2017: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom.
Measles is a highly contagious disease. It can spread quickly from person to person by direct contact and through droplets in the air.
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Early symptoms of measles include small, white spots inside the mouth and throat. After 3 to 7 days, a red blotchy rash develops on the face and spreads down the body. Measles can be contagious from 4 days before and after the rash appears.
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Health Canada advises travelers should make sure they have received two doses of the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) or measles-mumps-rubella-varicella (MMRV) immunization, regardless of their travel destination.
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