Summer Travel Alert: The Shocking Risk Of Measles During Trips To Southeast Asia And Other Affected Regions – How To Stay Safe And Protect Yourself

Monday, July 28, 2025

Measles, being an highly contagious viral disease, besides spreads pinch nan accrued recreation this summertime betwixt countries. South Korea has besides seen 40 percent much bales cases this twelvemonth — 65 arsenic of July 5 — than it had by nan aforesaid clip past year, nan Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) said. Seven successful 10 patients had history of overseas recreation and person been mostly known to person visited nan pursuing countries, Vietnam, Thailand, Italy, Uzbekistan, and Mongolia successful celebrated recreation destinations successful Southeast Asia.

In summation to nan surge successful cases successful nan Eastern Mediterranean, bales outbreaks are besides accelerating successful Southeast Asia, wherever countries specified arsenic Cambodia, nan Philippines, Laos and Vietnam person seen important increases. Travellers — peculiarly those who are unvaccinated aliases under-vaccinated — whitethorn beryllium astatine accrued consequence of coming into interaction pinch nan microorganism erstwhile visiting these areas, nan KDCA besides said, placing them astatine accrued consequence of bringing nan illness backmost to their location country.

What is Measles?

Measles is simply a viral respiratory unwellness caused by nan bales morbillivirus. The illness spreads done nan aerial erstwhile an infected personification coughs aliases sneezes, aliases moreover by breathing nan aforesaid air. Measles is 1 of nan astir contagious diseases, pinch complete 90% of susceptible individuals contracting nan microorganism aft exposure.

Symptoms typically look 7-21 days aft vulnerability and statesman pinch fever, a cough, runny nose, and conjunctivitis (red eyes). This is followed by a unique reddish rash that usually starts connected nan look and spreads to nan remainder of nan body. A hallmark motion of bales is nan quality of mini achromatic spots wrong nan mouth.

Severe complications tin originate from measles, including pneumonia, diarrhea, receptor infections, and successful uncommon cases, encephalitis aliases subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE), which tin beryllium fatal. With recreation connected nan rise, it’s basal for world travelers to enactment informed and prepared, arsenic moreover little visits to outbreak regions tin expose them to nan virus.

The Growing Global Measles Threat

According to nan World Health Organization (WHO), bales remains a important world wellness threat. Approximately 360,000 cases were reported worldwide successful 2024, pinch outbreaks peculiarly prevalent successful Europe, nan Middle East, and Southeast Asia. In nan Western Pacific region, countries for illustration Mongolia, Cambodia, Laos, and Malaysia reported notably precocious incidences of nan illness successful 2025.

For instance, Cambodia reported 1,097 bales cases, while Laos had 288, and Malaysia recorded 336 cases. This resurgence of bales is partially owed to declining world vaccination sum during nan COVID-19 pandemic, leaving gaps successful immunity. As world recreation rebounds, unvaccinated aliases under-vaccinated travelers are much susceptible to contracting and spreading nan virus, sparking secondary outbreaks.

Who is Most astatine Risk?

Of nan 65 cases that were acquired successful South Korea, adults accounted for nan highest proportionality — 76.9 percent — while much than half (55.4 percent) either had not been vaccinated aliases did not retrieve their vaccination history. Babies nether 12 months, pregnant women and group pinch weakened immune systems are peculiarly immuno-suppressed and besides should not recreation if astatine each avoidable successful nan region, wherever bales tin person superior consequences.

If you’re walking to a spot wherever location are outbreaks of measles, beryllium judge to get news astir nan risks and return nan due precautions. Vaccination is nan champion measurement to protect yourself.

How to Prevent Measles While Traveling

Measles is preventable pinch nan MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccine. The vaccine is typically fixed successful 2 doses—one astatine 12 to 15 months and nan 2nd astatine 4 to 6 years. For infants nether 12 months who are walking to high-risk areas, nan KDCA recommends an accelerated vaccination betwixt 6 to 11 months of age.

If your vaccination history is uncertain aliases incomplete, it is recommended to get nan MMR vaccine astatine slightest 2 weeks earlier traveling. This ensures that you are afloat protected against nan disease, reducing nan consequence of vulnerability and transmission.

In summation to vaccination, travelers tin protect themselves by practicing bully hygiene. This includes predominant handwashing, utilizing manus sanitizers, and wearing masks successful crowded nationalist areas. If you create symptoms specified arsenic fever, rash, aliases respiratory issues wrong 3 weeks of returning from an outbreak region, activity aesculapian attraction immediately. It is important to pass your healthcare supplier astir your recreation history, particularly if you fishy measles.

Public Health Recommendations for Travelers

Medical institutions person been advised to study immoderate suspected cases of bales to section nationalist wellness centers promptly. Early discovery tin thief forestall nan dispersed of nan microorganism and protect different travelers.

KDCA Commissioner Jee Young-mi emphasized nan value of being prepared for travel, stating, “Please make judge your bales immunizations are up to day earlier you spell abroad. And if you fishy immoderate symptoms aft travel, protect others by visiting a aesculapian installation promptly pinch a disguise on.”

Travelers should besides see checking pinch their healthcare supplier for updated recreation wellness recommendations, particularly erstwhile readying trips to Southeast Asia aliases regions pinch precocious bales activity.

Final Thoughts: Stay Safe and Plan Ahead

And pinch summertime recreation successful precocious gear, nan consequence of getting nan bales successful outbreak basking zones will increase. As nan world continues to rebound from nan pandemic, vaccination rates person lagged behind, truthful it’s much important than ever to make judge you and your loved ones are protected erstwhile you recreation overseas. You don’t person to interest astir catching bales if you’re existent connected your vaccinations and believe bully hygiene while traveling.

Preparation and consciousness are key, whether you’re walking to Southeast Asia, Europe aliases a basking picnic destination this winter. Remember to beryllium safe and that is besides applies to wellness and make judge you and everybody astir you is safe arsenic you acquisition nan world.