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Doctors encourage travelers to get vaccinated against measles

Posted at 7:03 PM, May 01, 2019
and last updated 2019-05-01 20:04:06-04

Doctors are encouraging people to get vaccinated against measles before traveling to areas experiencing outbreaks.

More than 704 cases have been reported nationally in areas like Detroit, Los Angeles and New York City.

While Acadiana and Louisiana haven’t had any cases reported, doctors say catching the virus is just a plane ride away.

“Most of the cases we’re seeing are when someone from the United States travels abroad, comes back and develops symptoms of the measles and then introduces measles to a pocket of unvaccinated people and it just spreads. It’s so contagious and it spreads very easily,” Dr. Tina Stefanski with the Louisiana Department of Health.