Measles Exposure Possible At Philadelphia International Airport

PHILADELPHIA — Philadelphia health officials are warning travelers of possible measles exposure at the Philadelphia International Airport.

According to the Philadelphia Department of Public Health, travelers at the airport may have been exposed to measles Sunday.

The potential exposure time window is between 8:50 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Terminals A and B

Officials said the individual with measles was traveling through the airport.

Anyone who was exposed is urged to check their vaccination status and watch for symptoms.

Measles is a highly contagious virus that spreads through the air when infected people cough, sneeze, or talk. Those who aren’t protected against measles can get the virus up to two hours after someone else with measles left the same room or airspace.

Early symptoms of measles are fever, runny nose, cough, and red, puffy eyes, followed by rash. In some people, it can be a very serious infection that leads to pneumonia, brain infection, and death.

The Health Department recommends the following:

1. Anyone possibly exposed to the measles case at the airport should follow the steps below to determine if you are protected from measles, and symptoms to look out for if you are not protected.
2. Determine if you are protected against measles. Generally, you are considered protected (immune) if you were:
   • Born before 1957, or
   • Have already had measles, or
   • Have received two doses of measles-containing vaccine (usually given as measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) vaccine).
     • Look at your vaccination records or ask your healthcare provider to see if you have already had two doses of this vaccine.

If you are protected from measles, you do not have to do anything.

Those not protected from measles should get a dose of MMR vaccine. Anyone under a year old under 12 months of age, pregnant and not immune, or are immunosuppressed (have a weakened immune system) should consult with their healthcare provider as soon as possible. Management of exposure to measles may be different with these conditions.

People who are not immune, may have been exposed, and develop any symptoms through Nov. 30 that appear like measles should contact their doctors immediately and inform them of measles exposure.

Additionally, officials said anyone who has these symptoms should also notify their local health departments or the state health department.