Pohang City Issues Measles Alert for International Travelers... Recommends Prompt Medical Attention for Symptoms After Return

Complete Measles Vaccination Urged Before International Travel
Seek Medical Attention for Cough, Rash, or Fever
Heightened Measles Alert After Overseas Trips

Pohang City has urged visitors planning international travel to ensure they are fully vaccinated against measles before departure to prevent infection.

According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, as of August 9, a total of 68 measles cases have been confirmed in the country, which is approximately 1.4 times higher than the same period last year (47 cases).

Of these, 49 cases (72.1%) were imported, with individuals contracting the disease abroad and being diagnosed after entering Korea. The main countries visited were Vietnam (42 cases), South Africa (3 cases), and Uzbekistan, Thailand, Italy, and Mongolia (1 case each).

The remaining 19 cases resulted from secondary transmission in settings such as households or medical institutions. Among all patients, 77.9% (53 people) were adults aged 19 or older, and 54.4% (37 people) were either unvaccinated or had unclear vaccination histories.

Measles is a highly contagious respiratory infection with an incubation period of 7 to 21 days (average 10 to 12 days). The main symptoms include fever, rash, cough, runny nose, and conjunctivitis. It spreads easily through coughing or sneezing, and more than 90% of non-immune individuals can become infected upon contact with a patient.

Recently, sporadic imported cases linked to visits to countries experiencing measles outbreaks have continued to occur in Korea, making it especially important to take precautions against infection while staying abroad.

Lee Kisung, Director of Health Policy at Buk-gu Public Health Center, emphasized, "Please make sure to complete your measles vaccination before traveling overseas," and added, "If you develop symptoms such as fever or rash within three weeks of returning, please visit a medical facility, inform them of your recent international travel, and seek medical attention."