Measles in Germany (Berlin)

11 Feb 2015

The media has reported on a measles outbreak in Berlin, northeast Germany. The outbreak was first indentified in October 2014, among asylum seekers. A total of 375 cases have been reported by the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) in the last four months. A spike in new cases was reported during January 2015, with 254 cases recorded, of those, 82 were notified in the last week of the month.

Advice for Travellers

It should be confirmed that children have received their recommended doses of MMR at 12-15 months of age and again pre-school around 3 years 6 months, while unimmunised adults who have not had the disease themselves may consider vaccination if thought to be at risk. Two doses of MMR vaccine are required to give adequate protection.