Lagos: NIGERIA has issued a measles travel alert, advising travelers to ensure that their vaccine status against the infectious disease is up to date.
The Nigerian Center for Disease Control has reported almost 6 000 cases of measles and over a dozen since the beginning of 2019, twice as much as last year for the same period.
In the last months, the increased level of hostilities resulted in massive displacement.
More than 700 000 people are living in overcrowded camp-like settings in Borno State, significantly increasing the risk of epidemics and infectious diseases.
“Recent outbreaks of measles highlight gaps in protection against the disease among children and adults. All travellers should check that their vaccination status is up-to-date and ensure that they have received two doses of measles vaccine,” the Nigerian government said in a travel notice.
“Travellers who are uncertain of their measles vaccination status should receive at least one dose of measles vaccine. All travellers should seek advice from their healthcare provider and be aware of the risk of exposure to measles virus as well as transmission and symptoms of the disease.”
The World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends that travelers get vaccinated against measles at least 15 days prior to travel.
