Cross-Border Health Alert
The New York State Department of Health issued a travel advisory urging residents to get vaccinated against measles before traveling to areas with outbreaks, including Ontario, Canada.
The advisory highlights measles' high contagiosity, stating about 90% of unvaccinated individuals exposed to the virus will become infected, emphasizing the ease of cross-border transmission.
Vaccination Urgency and Misinformation Challenges
New York health officials recommend two doses of the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine for optimal protection, especially before international travel.
The recent spike in measles cases, both in the U.S. and Canada, has been partly attributed to vaccine misinformation and hesitancy, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic's impact on vaccination schedules.