Disease Surging 45 Times in Europe Also Detected in Busan... "Beware of Infection Through Coughing"

Measles Outbreaks Worldwide Last Year
Infection Cases Also Increasing Domestically

As measles is spreading in Europe, measles patients have also been reported consecutively in South Korea.

According to Busan City on the 2nd, a man in his 40s, Mr. A, residing in Busan, was diagnosed with measles and is currently hospitalized for treatment. This is the first occurrence of a measles patient in Busan in five years since six cases were reported in 2019.

[Image source=Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency Measles Response Guidelines]

Health authorities are tracking Mr. A's movements and contacts, and have activated an emergency response system to check for additional confirmed cases, putting all efforts into preventing further spread.

Last year, 280,000 measles cases were reported worldwide, which is about 1.6 times higher than in 2022. In particular, Europe saw approximately 42,000 measles cases last year, a 45-fold increase compared to 2022. The surge in measles cases is attributed to a decline in measles vaccinations during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Cases imported into South Korea are also increasing. There were no measles patients in South Korea in 2021 and 2022, but as measles spread globally and overseas travel increased, eight cases were reported last year. Additionally, one measles patient imported from abroad was reported this month.

Measles vaccine. Photo by Yonhap News

Measles is an infectious disease transmitted through droplets and air via coughing or sneezing, characterized by its high contagiousness. Symptoms include fever, widespread rash, and oral lesions (Koplik spots).

People with insufficient immunity who come into contact with a patient have a 90% infection rate, but it can be effectively prevented through vaccination. It is recommended to receive two doses of the MMR vaccine, once between 12 and 15 months of age and again between 4 and 6 years of age. South Korea achieved a vaccination rate of over 98% and was certified by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a measles elimination country in 2014 due to its proactive response.

Health authorities urged travelers to strictly follow personal hygiene rules such as frequent hand washing and wearing masks when traveling abroad. They also emphasized that if suspicious symptoms appear after travel, individuals should avoid using public transportation, wear masks, and visit medical institutions while informing them of their overseas travel history.