Measles Exposure Possible At Philly Airport, 30th Street Station: Health Dept​

PHILADELPHIA — Travelers moving through two busy Philadelphia transit hubs may have been exposed to measles recently, according to health officials.

The Philadelphia Department of Public Health is warning of measles exposure at the Philadelphia International Airport, William H Gray III 30th Street Station, and on an Amtrak train.

Officials said anyone who was in Terminal A East at the airport between 7:50 p.m. and 11 p.m. on Wednesday may have been exposed. As for 30th Street Station, possible exposure time was between 8:15 p.m. and 11:25 p.m. that same day.

Lastly, the warning said exposure was possible on Amtrak Northeast Regional Train Southbound – 175 between 9:23 p.m. on and 11:30 p.m. on Wednesday. Officials said the train had scheduled stops between South Station in Boston and Union Station in Washington, DC.

The person with measles was traveling through Philadelphia, according to health officials.

"We believe there is no threat to the general public associated with this case of measles," Philadelphia Health Commissioner Dr. Palak Raval-Nelson said in a news release. "We encourage people who were possibly exposed to take action if they are not protected against measles. Many countries, including travel destinations, are experiencing measles outbreaks, so the potential for travel-related measles cases and subsequent outbreaks in the United States has increased. We strongly encourage parents to get their children fully vaccinated as soon as they are able. People planning to travel outside the United States should speak with their doctor about their travel plans and vaccinations needed."

Anyone who was exposed should 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. People 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.

The 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, officials said.

The MMR vaccine is the best way to avoid serious complications of a vaccine-preventable disease. MMR vaccine is routinely recommended for patients 12 to 15 months, with a second dose given at ages 4 to 6 years, according to the health department. Infants under one year are not routinely eligible for the vaccine and are not protected. However, infants 6 to 11 months old should receive a dose of MMR vaccine to protect them before traveling internationally, health officials said. Families who are traveling outside the United States should speak to their infant’s doctor at least two weeks before departing for their trip, according to officials.

The Health Department recommends that anyone possibly exposed to the measles case should determine if they are protected against measles. Generally, people are considered protected or immune if they were born before 1957, have already had measles, or have received two doses of measles-containing vaccine, usually the MMR vaccine.

Those who are protected from measles do not have to do anything.

Anyone not protected from measles and who was possibly exposed should follow these steps, per the health department:

• Talk to healthcare providers about receiving a dose of MMR vaccine as soon as possible.
• Those who are 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.
• Measles is contagious for four days before to four days after the rash starts. Those not immune who may have been exposed can give measles to someone at high risk before knowing they have it. To prevent that from happening, wear a mask in indoor public spaces and around anyone who is unvaccinated until three weeks after the exposure.
• Those not immune who may have been exposed, develop any symptoms through Jan. 28 that appear like measles, contact a doctor immediately. The early symptoms of measles are fever, runny nose, cough, and puffy, red eyes, followed by rash. Tell a doctor about the possible exposure to measles. They should also notify the Philadelphia Department of Public Health at 215-685-6740 (or the state health department at 877-724-3258 for residents of other counties in Pennsylvania) if measles symptoms develop.