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. 2025 Jul 28:67:102885.
doi: 10.1016/j.tmaid.2025.102885. Online ahead of print.

Measles importations by international travelers, GeoSentinel 2019-2025

Ralph Huits  1 , Dora Buonfrate  2 , Kevin O'Laughlin  3 , Davidson H Hamer  4 , Michael Libman  5 ; GeoSentinel network
Collaborators, Affiliations
Free article

Measles importations by international travelers, GeoSentinel 2019-2025

Ralph Huits et al. Travel Med Infect Dis. .
Free article

Abstract

Background: The global resurgence of measles is a threat to measles elimination campaigns. Measles importations by international travelers have been identified as a risk factor for outbreaks.

Methods: We reviewed measles cases among international travelers and migrants reported to the GeoSentinel network.

Results: From May 2019 through June 2025, GeoSentinel recorded 53 measles cases among travelers imported into 15 different countries. Travelers of all age groups were affected, and 74 % were 21 years or older. Thirty-three travelers (61 %) were hospitalized. Seventy-nine percent of cases reported no or unknown history of vaccination against measles.

Conclusions: Against a background of increasing numbers of measles cases and outbreaks globally, GeoSentinel observed a stable trend of measles importations by international travelers. Measles caused considerable morbidity among travelers. Immunization effectively prevents measles in more than 97 % of individuals. Pretravel consultations provide an important opportunity to promote vaccination coverage for all vaccine-preventable diseases, including measles.

Keywords: GeoSentinel; Measles; Migrants; Outbreak; Travelers; Vaccination.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of competing interest This is to certify that all authors have seen and approved the final version of the manuscript entitled ‘Measles Importations by International Travelers, GeoSentinel 2019–2025’. The manuscript is the authors' original work, hasn't received prior publication and isn't under consideration for publication elsewhere.

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