Apr. 15--The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention wants Americans traveling to Israel to make sure they are immunized against measles.
More than 900 people in Israel have been diagnosed with measles since September, the majority of them in Jerusalem and Beit Shemesh. Measles is a highly contagious virus, spread through coughing and sneezing.
The CDC advisory comes as many Americans prepare to travel to Israel for the Jewish holiday of Passover, celebrated Saturday through April 27.
The CDC recommends people planning to travel to Israel consult their doctor if they are not immune to measles or are unsure of their immune status and may need vaccination. Travelers returning from Israel should see a doctor if they develop measles symptoms, which include rash, high fever, cough, runny nose and red, watery eyes. Some people with measles also can get ear infections, diarrhea, a lung infection or, in rare instances, brain inflammation.
Travelers who develop symptoms while still in Israel should get medical attention before returning to the United States.
The disease can be especially serious in people who are malnourished or have a weak immune system. People considered immune from measles in the United States are those born before 1957, those who have had a documented case of measles or received two doses of the vaccine against the disease.
For more information about the measles outbreak in Israel, view http://wwwn.cdc.gov/ travel/contentMeasles.aspx.
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