Travelers and staff may have been exposed to measles at Philadelphia International Airport, city health officials announced Saturday evening, the second warning issued in recent days about the highly contagious virus.
Someone infected with measles was inside the airport from 7:25 p.m. Sept. 13 until 12:05 a.m. Sept. 14, according to the Philadelphia Department of Public Health. The individual was in terminals B and F, along with sections connecting to terminals C, D and E, the health department stated. They did not leave the airport, officials added.
On Thursday, the department sent out an alert about a possible measles exposure that occurred Sept. 11 from 9:30 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. in the NICU West, NICU West Family Lounge, atrium and main cafeteria at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.
The two cases are unrelated; however, the guidance is the same. Anyone who happened to be at the airport or CHOP during those time periods is advised to check their vaccination records and watch out for symptoms.
Pennsylvania is experiencing the worst measles outbreak in the nation, according to data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
No cases have been reported this year among residents of Philadelphia, Delaware or Bucks counties. A Pennsylvania Department of Health dashboard shows three documented cases in Montgomery County and 72 in Chester County, which borders Lancaster County, the epicenter of the commonwealth’s outbreak.
“This week’s measles exposures are a reminder of how important it is for all of us to be up to date on our vaccinations,” Philadelphia Health Commissioner Dr. Palak Raval-Nelson said in a statement. “Every Philadelphian who is fully vaccinated has little to fear from the situation at CHOP and the airport.
“Even more importantly, every one of those people is doing their part to help protect our most vulnerable from measles. With outbreaks continuing in Pennsylvania and other places, this is even more important.”
Individuals are considered protected against the virus if they were born before 1957, previously had mealses or received two doses of the measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) immunization.
Children typically receive an initial MMR shot between the ages of 12 and 15 months before receiving their second from ages four to six.
Given the extent of the ongoing outbreak, authorities have begun recommending an early dose for babies as young as 6 months old if they are traveling through counties with community transmission (such as Chester and Lancaster) or internationally.
Measles usually begins with a fever, runny nose, cough and red, watery eyes, before a rash sets in, according to the city’s health department.
Pennsylvania, through Sept. 18, has reported 767 cases this year, including 93 over the past week. Last week, health officials confirmed two more measles-related deaths, bringing the toll of the outbreak to four. State officials say 150 people have been hospitalized.
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