Summer Travel Warnings — malaria, polio, & measles (oh my)

Three Things Thursday

Three Things Thursday highlights three things I am paying attention to as an epidemiologist each week.

The three things that I am paying attention to this week are all about summer travel. As we approach July (the weekend before July 4th is the most popular week to travel each summer), many people are getting ready to travel. Summer vacation season is upon us and folks are traveling near and far for rest, relaxation, adventure, and touring.

If you or someone you love is planning to travel this weekend or any time between now and the start of school in August, here are the three travel warnings you need to be aware of and the steps you can take to prevent disease while traveling.

Hoping this post helps to educate and empower you
to be healthy and create healthy communities

Locally-Acquired Malaria in Florida (& now Texas)

Late last week Sarasota and Manatee counties in Florida issued a mosquito-borne illness alert following the diagnosis of two locally-acquired cases of malaria in the past 30 days. These two locally-acquired cases are the first two in 20 years.

In the past 48 hours, two additional cases of locally-acquired malaria were diagnosed in Florida and another case in Texas was diagnosed.

With FIVE cases of locally-acquired malaria diagnosed in two states in such a short period of time (a rare, hasn’t happened in the past 20 years occurrence), CDC issued a Health Alert on Monday.

NOTE: locally-acquired means that the case patient did NOT travel to an area where malaria is prevalent. Instead they were bitten by a mosquito in state and acquired the disease through a mosquito bite that took place in Florida. As the planet continues to experience climate change, we expect that the geographic range of mosquitos that transmit malaria — the Anopheles — will expand. Locally-acquired malaria in the Florida for the first time in 20 years is a big deal and is foreshadowing what is to come as the planet warms…

The first two individuals with malaria in Florida were diagnosed with the P. Vivax species of malaria, which is not as fatal as other species. But malaria is still a dangerous illness despite the species.

#malariaisnojoke

Malaria is a parasite that spreads through the bite of a mosquito. Worldwide there are nearly 250 million cases of malaria diagnosed each year. More than 600,000 individuals die from malaria annually. Symptoms of malaria include — fever, chills, sweats, nausea/vomiting, and headache.

It is important to note that locally acquired malaria is still very rare. And this is not a post to inciting panic. Instead — this post is serves to inform you. If you are traveling to Florida or Texas, there are steps you can take to prevent mosquito bites, ultimately preventing malaria —

If you have been to Florida or Texas recently and are experiencing any of these symptoms, please contact your primary care provider ASAP. Be sure to mention your recent travel and if you were bitten by a mosquito while away.

If you are traveling to Florida or Texas — be sure to protect yourself from mosquitos. Wear long sleeves or pants (if it is not too hot) and use mosquito repellant with DEET.

Polio Travel Warning

CDC is urging travelers to 30 countries, including Canada, the UK, and Indonesia, to practice enhanced precautions because poliovirus is spreading worldwide.

Polio is a virus that is highly contagious. It is spread via droplets when someone sneezes or coughs AND via fecal-oral contact (meaning if someone fails to wash their hands properly after using the bathroom or changing a diaper OR they leak fecal material into a pool, pond, or lake polio can spread from one person to another).

While most cases of polio are asymptomatic — some individuals can experience paralysis or even death following exposure to the poliovirus.

Thankfully, we have a safe and effective polio vaccine.

If you are traveling to one of the 30 countries worldwide where polio is spreading, please be sure to do the following to avoid contracting (and further spreading) polio while away —

1. Children should be up to date on their polio vaccines (this means they have received four doses of the polio vaccine).

2. It is recommended that adults should get a one-time inactivated polio booster before traveling.

Symptoms of polio include fever, headache, body aches, and sore throat in addition to ascending (starting at your feet and moving upward) paralysis in the body.

Measles Health Advisory

Measles — a disease once officially eliminated from the United States — is also spreading worldwide (including in the US). In fact, measles outbreaks are occurring in all WHO regions in 2023.

Measles is the most infectious disease on the planet. One person inflected with measles can infect upwards of 15 additional people.

If you are traveling this summer, especially if you are traveling internationally, make sure you (and everyone you are traveling with are up to date on your MMR vaccine.

Measles are so prevalent right now that it is recommended that infants aged 6 months and older get an MMR vaccine before they travel (instead of sticking with the childhood vaccine schedule which recommends the first MMR shot be given between 12-15 months of age).

Side note — individuals who have previously had measles do NOT need an MMR vaccine

Some people may think — the vaccine isn’t necessary. My immune system will fight off the disease if I’m exposed and then I’ll have immunity.

Well — that may be true.

BUT because measles is SO infectious — you may bring measles home with you. And you may fight off the infection with ease. BUT you are likely to infect upwards of 15 other people. And among those people there could be infants not eligible for either MMR vaccine. Or a cancer patient with a compromised immune system. Or an elderly neighbor whose immune system is failing.

We get vaccinated to protect ourselves.

And to protect our neighbors, friends, and communities.

The MMR vaccine is essential.

And it’s only two doses.

Questions about malaria, polio, or measles? Or need more information before you take off on your summer vacation?

Here’s a safe and healthy summer…

Be sure to share this information with your friends & family because it is impossible for us to be healthy unless we are all healthy.