Geneva: The World Health Organization (WHO) has urged visitors during the Rio Olympics to get vaccinated against measles and rubella two weeks before traveling.

In the Americas, endemic transmission of measles was interrupted in 2002 and transmission of rubella was interrupted in 2009. Last year, the region was certified as having eliminated rubella and congenital rubella syndrome, reports Xinhua. However, unimmunised travellers from countries where these viruses still circulate could reintroduce them.