Measles Alert for Travelers: Protect Your Family – Vaccination is Key

Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands – Tuesday, 19 December 2024: The Ministry of Health and Human Services urges the public to ensure that their family is fully vaccinated against measles before heading into the winter season. The TCI confirmed two cases of measles in May 2024 and subsequent to this, two cases were identified in the Caribbean region last month.

If you are planning to travel outside of the TCI during the holiday season or otherwise and you are under or unvaccinated, you may be at risk of contracting measles. Check your vaccination status before you go and ensure that you are fully vaccinated before you travel.

Key facts about measles:

• Measles is a highly infectious disease caused by a virus.
• Measles spreads easily between people who are under or unvaccinated.
• The measles mumps rubella (MMR) vaccine is your best defense against Measles. The vaccine is safe, effective, and available for free at government-operated Primary Health Care clinics.
• Symptoms typically start between 10 and 12 days after catching the infection. The signs and symptoms of measles are:
  • A high fever (39.1 degrees Celsius or 101 degrees Fahrenheit)
  • Runny or blocked nose
  • Cough
  • Red, sore, watery eyes
  • Small greyish-white spots with a bluish-white centre inside the mouth, cheek, and throat may appear a few days later.

A rash usually appears 2-4 days after the cold-like symptoms start. The rash starts on the face and behind the ears before spreading to the rest of the body. Measles spreads through:

• Close contact with an infected person
• Droplets from coughs or sneezes
• Touching contaminated surfaces someone has cough or sneezed on

Measles spreads easily within households and in other places where people mix closely together. Measles is so contagious that if one person has it, up to 90% of the people close to that person who are not vaccinated will also become infected. The period when a person can spread the virus most is within 7 to 10 days of exposure but can be up to 14 days.

What should you do to keep yourself, your family and community safe from measles?

1. Check Vaccination Records
   • Ensure that you and your children have received both doses of the MMR vaccine. If you are unsure, contact your healthcare provider or your local clinic immediately.
2. Recognise Symptoms
   • If you or your child develop a fever with a rash, seek medical attention promptly. Early detection helps prevent the spread of measles.
3. Practice Prevention
   • Encourage proper hygiene, such as covering coughs and sneezes and frequent handwashing, to reduce the risk of infection.

While the TCI has high vaccination coverage in the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine (MMR) (>95%), unvaccinated persons can still acquire measles through contact with an infectious person.

Have a safe and measles-free holiday season.

For more information or to schedule a vaccination, call 649-338-5469 or visit our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/tciministryofhealth/.