By I. Edwards HealthDay Reporter<\/b>
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TUESDAY, June 3, 2025 (HealthDay News) \u2014 Americans planning to travel outside the country should make sure they\u2019re vaccinated against measles<\/a> \u2014 no matter where they\u2019re headed, U.S. health officials say.<\/p>\n The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updated its guidance last week to recommend measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) shots for all international travelers, the Associated Press <\/em>reported.<\/p>\n In the past, the agency mainly emphasized the vaccine for those going to countries with active measles outbreaks. Now, it says the risk extends far beyond those areas.<\/p>\n Ashley Darcy-Mahoney<\/a>, a nursing researcher at George Washington University, said the change is a sign of how measles is spreading in new ways.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re seeing a shift from localized outbreaks to transmission in transit,\u201d she told the AP<\/em>.<\/p>\n That includes airports and during travel.<\/p>\n Darcy-Mahoney pointed to a recent measles outbreak in Colorado that started with an international flight landing in Denver.<\/p>\n The updated guidance advises that all Americans 1 year and older should have two doses of the MMR vaccine and infants 6 to 11 months old should receive one early dose before travel.<\/p>\n More than 1,000 measles cases<\/a> have been reported in the United States so far this year, CDC data show.<\/p>\n Measles is a highly contagious virus that spreads through the air. It can cause serious illness, especially in young children and people with weak immune systems.<\/p>\n More information<\/strong><\/p>\n The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has more on measles<\/a>.<\/p>\n