World Cup fans returning from US warned over carrying contagious virus | World | News
A woman with a red, spotty rash caused by measles (stock) (Image: Getty)
The World Cup may have finished nearly a week ago, but fans returning from the quadrennial tournament have been warned they could be bringing back more than souvenirs and memories.
It has long been reported that US Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr has espoused vaccine sceptical views with the controversial politician reportedly stopping funding for researchers investigating vaccine hesitancy earlier this year.
Vaccines are essential in stopping the spread of diseases including Covid-19, polio, and others. They also help stop the spread of another contagious disease, one which cases of are skyrocketing across the USA.
The World Cup attracted millions of people to the USA (Image: Getty)
The condition in question is measles. According to the NHS measles “is an infection that spreads very easily and can cause serious problems in some people”.
They added: “Having the MMRV or MMR vaccine is the best way to prevent it. Measles usually starts with cold-like symptoms, followed by a rash a few days later. Some people may also get small spots in their mouth.”
This information is particularly relevant given the USA, one of the World Cup host countries, has just reported that cases of measles have reached a 35 year high according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. They said that there have been 2,318 cases so far this year, up from 2,289 last year.
Following the release of this information, health experts have warned about the impact of the USA’s current virological position, including one Alejandra Gaiano, who works deputy secretary of the Infectious Diseases Committee of the Argentine Paediatric Society.
La Nacione reported that Gaiano warned that even fans returning from other host countries such as Canada could be facing risk. She explained: “At the moment, the return of everyone who travelled to the World Cup means we are on much higher alert, because in the three countries where it took place, there is a great deal of viral circulation.
“Canada lost its status as a measles-free country because of local transmission for over a year, which meant the whole region lost that status. Bolivia has also had local transmission for over a year. The virus is transmitted via the respiratory tract and is the most contagious known to humankind.”
Although measles has been circulating in Canada, it is in the USA where there is the greatest concern, especially as vaccine hesitancy remains.
There have been concerns over the USA’s vaccination policy after recent measles statistics (Image: Getty)
On why measles cases may have peaked, Dr William Moss of the International Vaccine Access Center said vaccination rates have protected the population and helped keep the virus at bay, reports the Independent.
In a statement, he said: “High vaccination coverage has protected even the un- and undervaccinated because of herd protection, keeping measles at bay for the past few decades But in communities with pockets of susceptible individuals across a broad age range, measles has been able to take hold, infecting those who are susceptible and spreading rapidly.”
Following the release of the data for the USA, health experts have renewed their calls for more people to get vaccinated to stop more people from catching the virus. In a statement Dr Brannon Traxler said: “If we don’t continue to see increases in vaccination, I’m worried that we could see another large … outbreak in a community where it gets introduced from someone who travelled.”
