Amid Peak Holiday Travel Season, Two Measles Cases Reported At 2 Major US Airports

Amid peak holiday travel, measles, which is one of the most infectious diseases, was detected at New Jersey’s Newark Liberty International Airport.

According to an official statement by New Jersey Department of Health (NJDOH), a case of measles was identified in a passenger at terminals B & C on December 12.

The virus can spread when someone coughs or sneezes. It can remain in the air for up to two hours after an infected person leaves the area.

“Measles symptoms include a high fever, cough, runny nose, watery red eyes, and a rash that usually appears between three and five days after symptoms begin,” the statement said. “The rash usually begins as flat red spots that appear on the face at the hairline and spread downward to the neck, torso, arms,

legs and feet.”

According to Fox News, officials are asking those who suspect exposure or illness to call their health provider before visiting a medical care center or hospital.

“NJDOH is working in collaboration with local health officials on ongoing contact tracing and on efforts to notify people who might have been exposed and to identify additional exposures that may have occurred,” the NJDOH said. It has urged the individuals at risk include those who have not been fully vaccinated or have not had measles in the past.

According to the health department, a total of 11 cases of measles have been confirmed this year.

Meanwhile, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) confirmed on Christmas Eve that a visitor from Texas has been diagnosed with measles.

Fox News quoted DPH stating in a press release that the traveler flew into Boston Logan International Airport on American Airlines flight 2384 from Dallas-Fort Worth and was in terminal B.

According to CDC, 2,012 measles cases have been reported in the US as of December 23.