Japanese health experts are urging people to take precautions against measles. The disease is highly infectious and can be fatal.

There is concern about a rise in cases around the world. And there has been an uptick in Japan since last month.

Efforts to prevent measles from gaining a foothold in Japan are currently focused on cases linked to Kansai Airport in Osaka Prefecture.

A man in Kyoto tested positive earlier this week. He went to the airport last month. He may have come into contact there with infected passengers on a flight from the United Arab Emirates.

Eight people who were on that flight have also since tested positive.

The main symptoms of measles include fever, coughing, rashes and red eyes. It can also lead to more serious complications such as pneumonia.

Measles is much more infectious than COVID-19. About one case in a thousand leads to encephalitis, which can be fatal.

Japan's measles vaccination program has traditionally focused on children.

In 2015, the World Health Organization verified Japan had eliminated the virus.

Outbreaks in Japan since then have been linked to infections brought in by people from overseas.

Measles cases have been on the rise around the world. The World Health Organization says about 300,000 cases were reported last year. That is a rise of about 80 percent from the year before.

Chief Professor at Kawasaki Medical School, Nakano Takashi, says vaccines are effective. He says: "People who have had measles in the past are generally immune. And people who have been vaccinated twice won't usually develop symptoms, even if they come into contact with someone with measles."

There is concern about a spread of misinformation about measles on social media.

Some posts downplay the symptoms and deny the need for vaccination.

Some encourage people to catch the virus and develop natural immunity.

People are advised to check information from public organizations.