Abstract
Mass gathering events represent a risk for the spread of communicable diseases such as measles. For example durin 2011 more than 12,000 cases of measles have been identified by ECDC through epidemic intelligence activities.
The majority of case reports are un-vaccinated individuals. Cases amongst healthcare workers have also been reported.
The importance of pre-travel health advice in case of mass gathering events is well-known: persons travelling can be exposed to infectious diseases such as measles and carry the acquired infections back to their home countries where they infect other people. On the other hand, visitors can bring infections from their home country, and as such, expose fellow visitors and nationals.
In this context, ECDC continues to stress the importance for European citizens to be vaccinated against measles if they have not already been vaccinated or have not previously had measles. The vaccine should be administered according to their national authority recommendations.