State health departments are advising travelers and residents to be wary of measles as the outbreak continues to grow in the United States and around the world.
The department said Hawaii has not reported any recent cases or outbreaks, but the state is vulnerable as a popular travel destination.
“Hawaii has not had any recent outbreaks or spread of measles within the state, but you can become infected as soon as you fly,” state epidemiologist Dr. Sarah Kemble said in a news release. “The current outbreaks in the United States and abroad are of serious concern because the United States is a popular domestic and international travel destination and has a large population of residents who travel frequently. Both groups have the potential to introduce and spread measles. there is.”
As of February 29, a total of 41 measles cases have been reported in 16 U.S. states, including California, Florida and New York City, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The Hawaii State Department of Health has issued an advisory asking local health care providers to be on alert for patients with symptoms as measles cases continue to rise.
Last April, DOH reported one case of measles infection in an unvaccinated Oahu resident who returned from overseas travel.
Measles is highly contagious and spread through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes.
Early symptoms include fever, cough, runny nose, red, watery eyes, followed by a rash of small red spots, usually starting on the head and then spreading to other parts of the body.
Measles can cause serious health complications, especially in children under 5, people who are pregnant, and people with weakened immune systems.
The DOH said the best way to prevent measles is to receive the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine.
The DOH said that infants aged 6 to 11 months should receive one dose of the MMR vaccine before traveling abroad, while children, teenagers, and adults aged 1 year and older without evidence of immunity should be vaccinated at least 28 days apart. said that two doses of the MMR vaccine are required.
