Saturday, August 31, 2013

Travel Alert Poland Rubella (German Measles} Outbreak



As of August 15, 2013, a total of 36,087 cases of rubella have been reported in Poland since the beginning of 2013. The entire country is affected, but the western region (Malopolskie and Wielkopolskie provinces) has the highest number of cases. Other provinces with high numbers of cases include Lublin, Lubusz, Kuyavian-Pomeranian, Podkarpackie, Pomeranian, and Zachodniopomorskie (West Pomeranian).
CDC recommends that all travelers to Poland protect themselves from rubella by being up-to-date on their rubella vaccine.  Pregnant women who are not protected against rubella either through vaccination or previous rubella infection should avoid traveling to Poland during this outbreak. This is especially important during the first 20 weeks of pregnancy.Talk to your healthcare provider if you are pregnant:
  • Before traveling to Poland, all pregnant women should talk with their health care providers to make sure they are protected against rubella and if it is advisable to travel.
  • Pregnant women who are not protected against rubella either through vaccination or previous rubella infection should avoid traveling to Poland during this outbreak. This is especially important during the first 20 weeks of pregnancy.
  • MMR vaccine is contraindicated during pregnancy.
  • When rubella infection occurs during early pregnancy serious consequences—such as miscarriages, stillbirths, and a severe birth defects in infants (Congenital rubella syndrome, CRS) can result. As many as 85 of 100 babies born to mothers who had rubella in the first 3 months of her pregnancy will have a birth defect.

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