[Asia Economy Reporter Byeon Seon-jin] As overseas travel increases with the recovery of daily life, a domestic measles patient has been reported for the first time in three years.
The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) announced on the 3rd that a Korean national, Mr. A (in his 40s), who had been on the same flight as a confirmed measles patient abroad, was diagnosed with measles after returning to Korea. This is the first domestic measles case since February 2020.
On December 18 last year, a measles case was confirmed among passengers on a flight from Doha, Qatar to Barcelona, Spain, and 21 Koreans, including Mr. A, were on the same flight. Mr. A returned to Korea last month via Incheon from Doha and was monitored by the local health center. He developed rash symptoms starting on the 31st. Following a respiratory test, he was confirmed to have measles on the 2nd. Mr. A is currently in good condition and receiving treatment at home.
Measles is a highly contagious disease that begins with fever, cough, runny nose, and conjunctivitis, followed by oral mucosal spots and skin rash. It is mainly transmitted through airborne droplets and direct contact. After a major outbreak in Korea in 2000-2001, the incidence sharply declined following the nationwide measles vaccination campaign in 2001, and Korea was certified as a measles elimination country in 2014. However, the KDCA notes that infections still occur in countries with low vaccination rates, and confirmed cases occasionally appear domestically due to importation from abroad.
The KDCA explained that in Korea, the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccination rate is high, with 97.1% for the first dose and 95.0% for the second dose. However, unvaccinated individuals, infants under 12 months who are not yet eligible for vaccination, or immunocompromised persons are at risk of infection if exposed to measles. Children can prevent measles by following the standard vaccination schedule, which includes the first dose at 12-15 months of age and the second dose at 4-6 years of age.
Recently, as overseas travel has become more frequent, measles outbreaks have occurred worldwide. As of December last year, cases were reported in 47 countries over the past year. Even in measles elimination countries such as China (411 cases), Tajikistan (396 cases), the United States (76 cases), the United Kingdom (45 cases), Japan (6 cases), Singapore (3 cases), Australia (3 cases), and Hong Kong (1 case), cases have been reported.
The health authorities urge travelers planning to visit measles-affected areas to check whether they have completed two doses of the measles vaccine before traveling. If vaccination is incomplete or uncertain, they should complete two doses (at least 4 weeks apart) 4 to 6 weeks before departure. They also advise practicing personal hygiene measures such as handwashing and proper cough etiquette during travel to prevent infection. The KDCA emphasized, "If measles symptoms are suspected after travel (incubation period 7-21 days), avoid using public transportation as much as possible and visit a medical institution for testing."
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