U.S. health authorities are now urging all international travelers to ensure they are vaccinated against measles, regardless of their destination, in response to a global rise in cases.
Previously, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) emphasized vaccination mainly for travel to countries experiencing active outbreaks. However, updated guidance issued last week now recommends measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccination for anyone traveling abroad, reflecting a broader shift in transmission patterns.
Ashley Darcy-Mahoney, a researcher at George Washington University’s nursing school, described the new advisory as significant. A recent measles outbreak in Colorado was traced back to an international flight that landed in Denver, underscoring the risk of in-transit exposure.
“We’re seeing a shift from localised outbreaks to transmission in transit,” and the CDC seems to be responding to that, Darcy-Mahoney said.
The updated CDC notice aligns with European Union health guidelines, calling for two MMR doses for all Americans aged 1 and older, and an early dose for infants aged 6 to 11 months who are traveling internationally. The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) also advises travelers to be fully vaccinated before departure.
So far in 2025, the United States has recorded over 1,000 measles cases, while the EU has reported more than 5,500 cases, pointing to a resurgence of the virus across multiple regions.
