Taiwan Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has raised the travel health notice for measles to Level 1 in response to the ongoing measles outbreak in the United States. Physicians recommend anyone born after 1965 who has not had the measles vaccine within the past 15 to 20 years to get a booster shot before traveling to the U.S.
Per the U.S. CDC, there have been more than 600 cases of measles across 22 states in 2025, the largest number since 2019. The outbreak in Texas has been most severe, with 19 counties reporting more than 480 cases, 56 of which were hospitalized. Taiwan’s CDC has responded by raising the travel health notice to “Level 1: Watch,” reminding the public to practice preventative measures.
The measles vaccine was introduced to Taiwan in 1968, bringing the spread of the disease under control by 1993. Taiwan Director of Shuang Ho Hospital’s Infectious Disease Department Lee Wen-sen (李文生) said in an interview on Tuesday that the majority of Taiwanese citizens have received two doses of the measles vaccine; those born before 1965 have acquired natural immunity to the disease.
Li said measles is highly contagious and is transmitted through the air by breathing, coughing, or sneezing. He advises anyone with plans to travel to the U.S. to avoid going to states and counties where outbreaks are occurring and to practice good personal hygiene.