Health Alert
Measles in France
Updated July 11, 2017What is the current situation?
Health officials in France have reported an outbreak of measles.
You can get measles primarily by breathing in airborne particles that contain the virus. Symptoms of measles are rash, high fever, cough, runny nose, and red, watery eyes.
CDC recommends that travelers to France protect themselves by making sure they are vaccinated against measles. Getting measles vaccine is particularly important for infants 6–11 months of age (1 dose of measles vaccine) and children 1 year of age or older (2 doses of measles vaccine separated by at least 28 days). Clinicians should keep measles in mind when treating patients with fever and rash, especially if the patient has recently traveled internationally.
What can travelers do to protect themselves?
•Get measles vaccine or make sure you have already been vaccinated before you go.
•Wash your hands often.
•Avoid touching your mouth, nose, and eyes.
Learn more about preventing measles and what to do if you think you have it on the measles page for travelers.
Traveler Information
•Measles Webpage for Travelers
•CDC Measles Homepage
•MMR Vaccine Information Statement
•MMRV Vaccine Information Statement
Clinician Information
•Measles (Rubeola) in CDC’s Yellow Book
•Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) Recommendations for MMR vaccine and MMRV vaccine
•Measles Information for Healthcare Professionals
Page created: July 07, 2017
Page last updated: July 07, 2017
Page last reviewed: July 07, 2017
Content source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases (NCEZID)
Division of Global Migration and Quarantine (DGMQ)