With Japan reporting 3.5 times more measles cases this year than the same period last year, the CDC reminds travelers to be vigilant when visiting affected countries. In a Thursday press release, CDC spokesperson Tseng Shu-hui (曾淑慧) recommended the MMR (Measles, Mumps, and Rubella) vaccine and taking necessary personal protective measures while in the affected areas.

The CDC has issued a Level 2 (Alert) travel advisory for nine countries: Guatemala, Kazakhstan, Indonesia, Angola, Mexico, Yemen, Pakistan, Vietnam, and India, urging the public to take enhanced precautions. Additionally, 31 countries have been designated Level 1 (Caution), including the United States, Canada, China, Laos, and Cambodia, among others, with the public reminded to adhere to general preventative measures.

Although Taiwan has not included Japan in its measles travel advisory, Tseng pointed out that Japan had accumulated 197 measles cases by the end of March compared to 58 cases during the same period last year, a significant increase. Currently, the main high-risk areas are Tokyo, Kagoshima, Aichi Prefecture, and Chiba Prefecture.

Tseng advises adults born after 1966 to consult a travel medicine clinic 2-4 weeks before departure to assess whether they need an MMR vaccination. She also emphasized that pregnant women and infants under one year old are high-risk groups and should avoid traveling to measles-affected areas. If traveling with infants aged 6 months to under 1 year, it is recommended that the child be assessed and vaccinated before departure.

CDC epidemiologist Lin Yung-ching (林詠青) pointed out that measles infection initially presents with symptoms such as fever, runny nose, and conjunctivitis, which may be mistaken for a common cold or flu. However, these symptoms may be accompanied by a red rash, with about 5% to 10% of cases developing complications, and high-risk groups reaching a 5% to 10% mortality rate.