4. Travel and Measles: The Unseen Passenger
Jet-setting across continents has become second nature in our globalized world. However, this interconnectedness has a downside: diseases can hitch a ride too. Measles, in particular, knows no boundaries and can quickly spread across countries and continents via unsuspecting travelers.
Airports and other transportation hubs are measles’ playgrounds. A single infected traveler can potentially expose hundreds to the virus, especially in the confined space of an airplane. From there, the virus can make its way to a new country and ignite an outbreak, particularly if the local population isn’t adequately vaccinated.
What amplifies the risk is the virus’s longevity outside the host. Measles can live for up to two hours in airspace where an infected person coughed or sneezed. This durability makes transmission in shared spaces, like airport lounges or bus terminals, all the more probable. (4)
