Collective Prevention Services (CPS) of the Ministry of Public Health, Social Development and Labour, are advising those who are planning to travel to the World Cup in Brazil to check their vaccination status where it concerns measles and rubella.
The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) says endemic transmission has been interrupted in the Americas, but measles and rubella continue to circulate in other parts of the world.
More than 600,000 people are expected to attend the FIFA World Cup in Brazil.
PAHO has urged all countries in the Americas to protect themselves against measles, rubella and other vaccine-preventable diseases, in view of the upcoming FIFA World Cup in Brazil and the need to protect the achievements in disease elimination in the Americas.
As part of Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labour Hon. Cornelius de Weever’s “Get Checked” campaign which promotes good health for all ages, getting vaccinated against measles and rubella is your best shot to protect yourself, your family and all the people of the Americas.
Of the 32 countries with teams participating in the World Cup, 19 reported measles cases in 2013. In the Americas, endemic transmission of measles was interrupted in 2002 and transmission of rubella in 2009. However, measles continues to circulate elsewhere in the world, and some countries in the Americas have reported imported cases.
