The Seattle-King County Public Health Department issued the alert after being notified that an adult with confirmed contagious measles had traveled through Seattle-Tacoma International Airport after traveling to Europe.
The infections were confirmed after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a warning to public health officials. Measles cases in the United States This year already coincides with the entire year 2023.
According to the Seattle and King County alert, the infected adult traveled through the international airport on May 10 and 11, but the person’s measles vaccination status is unknown.
Health officials said the person, who lives in Arizona, likely contracted the virus while in Europe, though they did not say which countries the person had traveled to.
The CDC issued a measles alert because the number of measles cases in 2024 already equals the total number of cases in 2023.
Measles concept as a deadly epidemic, vaccination and disease or viral illness with contagious chickenpox and skin rash in 3D illustration style. (iStock)
According to health officials, the individual traveled through the S Concourse (Gate S1) between 5:30 pm and 9:30 pm on May 10, passing through customs and proceeding to baggage claim (Carousel 19) in the international arrivals facility.
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On May 11th, from approximately 7:30 a.m. to approximately 11:30 a.m., the individual was in Concourse A (Gate A8).
Measles outbreaks in the United States and abroad have raised concerns among health professionals about a preventable virus that was once common in children. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig, File)
Seattle health officials said anyone who believes they may have been infected at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport should:
- Check if you have been vaccinated against measles or have had measles in the past. Keep up to date with the recommended number of measles (MMR) vaccinations.
- If you develop any illness, such as a fever or an unexplained rash, contact your health care provider right away. Before going to a clinic or hospital, call ahead to say you want to be tested for measles after exposure to avoid potentially spreading measles to others.
- Limit contact with others, especially those who are not immune.
If you have been in any of the above locations and are not immune to measles, you are most likely to get sick between May 17, 2024 and June 1, 2024. People with weakened immune systems may take longer to develop symptoms.
The photo illustration shows the skin of a patient with measles. (iStock)
The health scare at the international airport came after the CDC issued a warning to public health officials. Measles cases in the United States This year already coincides with the entire year 2023.
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“From January 1 through March 14, 2024, CDC reported 58 confirmed cases of measles in the United States across 17 jurisdictions, including: 7 occurrences Seven jurisdictions are expected to see a decline in 2023, with a total of 58 cases and four outbreaks reported throughout the year, according to the release.
“Of the 58 cases reported in 2024, 54 (93%) were associated with international travel,” the CDC continued, adding that “measles outbreaks are occurring in many countries, including travel destinations such as Austria, the Philippines, Romania, and the United Kingdom.”
The measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine sits on the counter at a pediatric clinic in Greenbrae, California. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg, File)
The CDC describes measles as a “highly contagious viral disease” that “can cause serious health complications, including pneumonia, encephalitis (brain inflammation), and death, especially in unvaccinated people.”
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“To prevent measles infection and reduce the risk of imported community-acquired measles infection, all U.S. residents traveling internationally, regardless of destination, should maintain current MMR vaccination coverage,” the warning states. “Healthcare providers should ensure that children remain up to date on routine immunizations, including the MMR vaccine.”
