Diseases Can Travel and Spread Easily

You may have never seen a case of polio or diphtheria, but these diseases still occur in other countries. For example, measles is rare in the United States because of vaccination, but it is still common around the world. Unvaccinated travelers who are infected while abroad can easily bring diseases to the United States.

Measles is a contagious viral infection that spreads through coughing and sneezing. It starts with fever, runny nose, cough, red eyes, and sore throat. It’s followed by a rash that spreads over the body. Measles can be dangerous for babies and young children, especially. Make sure you and your child are protected with measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine.

If you are a healthcare provider:  report suspect cases of measles IMMEDIATELY by calling your local District Health Office or the DPH Acute Disease Epidemiology Section at 404-657-2588 during business hours Monday through Friday, or 1-866-PUB-HLTH after-hours on evenings and weekends.

Helpful Links:

About Measles

Measles Infographic 

Measles Vaccine