Office of Communicable Diseases

Information for Health Care Providers

Information from CDC about the European measles outbreak at the World Cup
June 22, 2006

Dear Colleagues,

This e-mail is to inform you and your organization of actions being taken in response to the current outbreaks of measles in some European countries including Germany, where the World Cup is currently being played; the World Cup may pose an elevated risk for transmission and subsequent importation of measles into the US.

In response, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Division of Global Migration and Quarantine (DGMQ) and National Immunization Program (NIP) are targeting information efforts at 21 U.S. international airports where the majority of travelers from Europe enter the US. The intervention focuses on controlling the spread of infection by identifying ill travelers, alerting travelers to their possible exposure, providing infection control guidance, and directing them to seek care.

Current activities include providing a fact sheet for airlines to share with flight crews at sign-in and for Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to share with their officers. The fact sheet provides basic information about measles, infection control, reporting procedures, and immunization. In addition, CDC is working with CBP and airport authorities to display posters in customs and immigration areas. Posters will be displayed until July 23 (two weeks after the conclusion of the World Cup). The posters focus on alerting travelers of possible exposure, providing infection control guidance, and directing them to seek care.

These activities are in addition to an Epi-X alert and information posted on CDC's Travelers Health website at http://www.cdc.gov/travel/ .

We would like to ask you to share this information with members of your organization so that they may be aware of activities in their jurisdictions. Please feel free to contact us should you have any questions or concerns.

Thank you very much,

Sincerely,
Francisco Averhoff M.D.,M.P.H.
Division of Global Migration and Quarantine
National Center for Infectious Diseases
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
1600 Clifton Road, MS E-03
Atlanta, GA 30333
phone: 404-639-7025
fax: 404-639-3451

Paul E. Jarris, MD, MBA
Executive Director ASTHO
1275 K Street, NW Suite 800
Washington, DC 20005-4006
(202) 371-9090 main
(202) 371-9797 facsimile
www.ASTHO.org
www.StatePublicHealth.org

Be advised that rash illness events are currently reportable to the Rhode Island Department of Health, Division of Family Health Immunization Program at (401) 222-5921. http://www.health.ri.gov/topics/measles.php