Travelers warned about measles

OTTAWA, Feb. 20 (UPI) -- The Public Health Agency of Canada in Ottawa reminds residents who plan to travel to make sure their measles vaccinations are up-to-date.

In a travel health notice, the health agency says in 2010, measles were reported not only in many developing countries in Africa and Asia, but also in some countries in Eastern and Western Europe, the United States and Australia.

The agency says in 2010:

-- In Asia, large numbers of confirmed cases were reported in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Pakistan, Thailand and the Philippines.

-- Countries in Africa such as Angola, Botswana, Ethiopia, Lesotho, Mali, Malawi, Nepal, Nigeria, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe reported large numbers of measles cases.

-- European countries including Bulgaria, Bosnia and Herzegovina and France reported outbreaks of measles.

-- There were a small number of cases reported in Brazil and Argentina, places there has not been a case of measles originated since 2000.

In 2011, there have been confirmed cases of measles reported in a number of countries including the United States, Argentina and New Zealand.

Infants and children should have two doses of a measles-containing vaccine, for adults born in or after 1970 should have received two doses of measles-containing vaccine. However, people may be protected from measles if born before 1970.