Abstract
Measles is a highly contagious viral infection that can lead to many severe complications in children and adults. This year, in 2018, the Czech Republic is confronted with the third largest measles outbreak in the last five years, despite the availability of a safe and effective vaccine from 1969.
The disease is typically imported and due to increasing tourism, we can expect an increase in outbreaks. There are also more and more unvaccinated children, causing rapid spreading of the virus within the population.
In this article, the authors focus on the clinical problematic of measles, its epidemiology, vaccine history and recommended steps, in addition to interesting case reports from The Clinic of Infectious Diseases and Travel Medicine at the Pilsen Teaching Hospital. The article also points out the fact that measles are a threat even to healthcare workers, who may not always be sufficiently protected.