Ongoing travel warnings for Poland and Japan have been issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) due to outbreaks of rubella, otherwise known as German measles.
The CDC has issued a “level 2” alert which means that travelers should exercise enhanced precautions when visiting areas affected by these outbreaks.
Over 14,000 cases of rubella have been documented in Japan. The cases are more concentrated in Osaka and Tokyo.
In Poland there have been over 36,000 cases of rubella throughout the country since the beginning of the year and the cases are continuing to develop.
Adults who must travel to these regions should see their health practitioner for a blood test to see if immunity is still active. Booster shots are available for adults who need it.
Symptoms of rubella include a rash that generally begins on the face and spreads, as well as a low-grade fever. Other symptoms include swollen glands and muscle ache, as well as fatigue.
In the United States, children are generally immunized for rubella in a combination measles-mumps-rubella vaccine. Rubella is particularly damaging to fetuses.
The CDC reports that, “As many as 85 of 100 babies born to mothers who had rubella in the first 3 months of her pregnancy will have a birth defect.”
Women who have not been vaccinated and are pregnant or have a possibility of becoming pregnant are at a higher risk and should reconsider travel plans to the affected areas.
Education, prevention and precaution are vital for anyone who must travel to affected areas. Being aware can help prevent people from inadvertently bringing diseases back home with them.
Health practitioners should remain aware of travel alerts related to foreign countries so that they can better address the root cause of illness, especially with symptoms that may at first appear flu-like in some patients.
Asking about and properly recording any recent travelling done by patients can help medical personnel accurately rule out the possibility of diseases contracted while traveling.
Useful Sources:
http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/alert/rubella-poland
http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/alert/rubella-japan
http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd-vac/rubella/default.htm
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