Measles Outbreak
April 18, 2019 — Flight Attendants are on the frontlines of any public health outbreak. Our hearts are with the El Al Flight Attendant and Cathay Pacific Flight Attendant who are battling measles. Our thoughts are with them for a full recovery. Their suffering should give the public and crew urgency to heed the recommendations of health officials.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provides information on measles that should be useful for Flight Attendants.
The main CDC measles home page highlights the following key information:
Measles starts with fever, runny nose, cough, red eyes, and sore throat. It’s followed by a rash that spreads over the body. Measles is highly contagious and spreads through coughing and sneezing. Make sure you and your child are protected with measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine.
Make sure you are vaccinated against measles before traveling internationally.
- About Measles
- Vaccination for Measles
- Cases and Outbreaks
- Lab Tools
- For Public Health Professionals
- Resources
Finally, there are links to pages with advice for Parents and Caregivers, Healthcare Providers, and Travelers, as well as links to numerous ongoing US outbreaks related to international travelers who have brought the virus back with them. The Travelers page is especially useful to AFA members who work or travel internationally, as it includes pre-travel recommendations (in particular: "Teenagers and adults who do not have evidence of immunity against measles should get two doses of MMR vaccine separated by at least 28 days") and lists, with links, all the countries with current Travel Notices.
