Football fans heading to Germany for the FIFA World Cup have been advised to get measles shots after a European outbreak.

The Department of Health said on Wednesday in a release that the outbreak included Denmark, Germany, Greece, Spain and the Ukraine.

?Due to the risk of individuals contacting the disease, the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) have issued an advisory to travellers that they should obtain measles vaccination at least two weeks prior to travel to affected countries,? the release said.

?Of particular concern is the risk to those individuals who may be planning to attend any of the World Cup Football Matches in June 2006 as the matches will be held in cities which have recorded large outbreaks, i.e. Cologne, Dortmund and Gelsenkirchen.?

PAHO said in a release there has been 1,106 measles cases in the German region of North Rhine-Westphalia since January. It said measles was a highly contagious viral infection which caused high fever, rash, red eyes, and cough but serious complications could occur.

Anyone who was not immunised was at risk, it said, although some older individuals who suffered from childhood measles may retain some immunity.

In order to be safe from measles, two shots of an ?MMR? vaccine ? for mumps, measles and rubella ? are recommended, it said, which is generally given in childhood after the age of one year and most children born in Bermuda after 1975 have had at least one MMR shot.

All children born here after 1996 have been offered two shots, it said.

?MMR is contraindicated for infants under the age of six months, pregnant women and immune compromised individuals,? it said.

It said MMR immunisations can be obtained from private physicians or for $20 for adults ? free for children under 18-years-old ? at Government Health Clinics.