Measles outbreak: Tourists on alert as six diagnosed after taking flights in Europe

SIX people have been diagnosed with measles in Spain, sparking fears that the disease is on the rise in Europe.

By Katie Harris, Political Reporter

Dr Chris: Measles is one of most infectious diseases in world

Five flight attendants and one passenger have been diagnosed with measles in Spain, according to the head of preventive medicine at the Hospital Clínic in Barcelona, Antoni Trilla. Writing on Twitter, Mr Trilla said that those affected travelled on domestic flights and to other countries in the European Union in November, adding that the possibility of new cases has not been ruled out.

Measles is a highly contagious viral disease, transmitted via droplets from the nose and mouth.

You can catch measles by breathing in the droplets of touching surfaces they are on.

The infection usually lasts 7 to 10 days.

Symptoms can include a runny nose, sneezing, a cough, red eyes, a high temperature, greyish spots in the mouth and a rash.

Measles

Six people have been diagnosed with measles in Spain (Image: GETTY)

Measles is uncommon in the UK because of the effectiveness of vaccination.

But European countries are seeing a surge in the number of cases which has been blamed on a drop in the number of people being vaccinated.

In the first six months of 2018, more than 41,000 people were infected in Europe, according to the World Health Organisation.

In 2017 there were 23,927 cases over the year and in 2016 there were 5,273.

Speaking in August, Dr Mary Ramsay, head of immunisation at Public Health England, said: "We have seen a number of measles outbreaks in England which are linked to ongoing large outbreaks in Europe.

"The majority of cases we are seeing are in teenagers and young adults who missed out on their MMR vaccine when they were children.

"Anyone who missed out on their MMR vaccine in the past or are unsure if they had two doses should contact their GP practice to catch up.

"We would encourage people to ensure they are up to date with their MMR vaccine before travelling to countries with ongoing measles outbreaks, heading to large gatherings such as festivals, or before starting university."

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