Home Quarantine and Strict Adherence to Prevention Guidelines... All-Out Efforts to Prevent Spread
"Two Doses of Vaccine Required at Least Six Weeks Before Departure"
Gwangju City is making every effort to prevent the spread of measles and to promote measles prevention, as a case of measles caused by overseas inflow has occurred in the region. The city is preparing countermeasures to prevent the spread of measles locally.
As of the 18th, seven cases of measles have been reported in the Honam region. In response, Gwangju City has strengthened its response system to prevent community transmission in cooperation with the Honam Regional Disease Response Center, public health centers in the five districts, the Gwangju Infectious Disease Control Support Group, and related organizations.
In particular, the city plans to work with local medical institutions to ensure rapid reporting and identification of suspected cases, strengthen symptom monitoring, and promote measles prevention guidelines such as providing information on infectious diseases. In addition, a 24-hour emergency response system has been established, and a cooperative system with related organizations is in place to promptly handle the reporting, monitoring, testing, and epidemiological investigation of suspected cases.
The measles patients in the Honam region include foreigners and infants who entered Korea after traveling to Southeast Asia (Vietnam). Measles is a highly contagious respiratory infection that spreads through the air via coughing or sneezing. Symptoms include fever, rash, and grayish-white spots in the mouth (Koplik spots). More than 90% of people who are not immune to measles can become infected after contact with a patient.
However, measles can be effectively prevented through vaccination. The measles vaccine (MMR) must be administered twice: once at 12-15 months of age and again at 4-6 years of age. Infants under one year old, whose immune systems are weak, are at higher risk of complications such as pneumonia, otitis media, and encephalitis if infected with measles, so it is strongly advised to refrain from visiting countries where measles is prevalent.
If you are notified by a public health center as a contact of a measles patient, you should closely monitor your symptoms for 21 days (the incubation period) and refrain from going out as much as possible. If you develop symptoms such as fever, rash, cough, or runny nose that may suggest measles, you should wear a mask, avoid using public transportation as much as possible, minimize contact with others, and visit a medical institution. Before visiting a medical institution, you must inform the medical staff by phone that you are a contact of a measles patient and follow their instructions for treatment.
Kang Yunseon, Director of Public Health and Medical Services, stated on the 19th, "Measles is highly contagious, but it is a preventable disease with proper response and vaccination. To prevent further transmission in the community, please report to the public health center if you develop suspicious symptoms and comply with the guidelines for contacts."
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