Investigation into Measles Exposure at Anchorage Airport
The Anchorage Health Department is currently looking into a measles case that could have exposed travelers at Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport on Monday evening. The infected individual had arrived from Las Vegas, with a stop in Seattle.
Measles is extremely contagious, spreading through the air and direct contact. Thankfully, it’s preventable via the MMR vaccine.
Health officials believe the risk of exposure is low in this situation since the person isolated after arriving in Anchorage.
The health department’s alert indicates that this individual traveled on Monday “from an area of the United States currently facing a significant measles outbreak.”
Additionally, “They did not have a record of being vaccinated against measles,” the alert stated.
Anyone who was at the airport between 4 and 8 p.m. Monday may have been exposed to the virus, according to the announcement.
Furthermore, individuals at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. or at Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas from 6:30 to 7:30 a.m. on the same day may also have been at risk.
Those who were on flights with the affected person have been directly informed, according to Anchorage Health Department spokesperson Michelle Fehribach. She noted in an email that flight details are not usually shared with the public to protect the privacy of those involved.
If someone who hasn’t been vaccinated comes into contact with someone contagious, symptoms might develop between October 20 and November 3.
Symptoms of measles include a high fever, cough, runny nose, and a rash that typically begins on the face and spreads to the chest and back, as well as red, watery eyes. The illness can be dangerous or even fatal, particularly for infants and young children.
People experiencing measles symptoms are advised to contact a healthcare provider prior to visiting a hospital or clinic in person.
As of October 14, the CDC’s measles tracking website noted three cases of measles reported in Alaska in 2024 and 2025. Earlier cases this year included a juvenile in Anchorage in May and a resident from the Kenai Peninsula in January, who had been hospitalized in Homer after traveling overseas.
This year, nearly 1,600 measles cases and three deaths have occurred in the U.S., as shown on the CDC’s website. Most cases involve individuals who were either unvaccinated or for whom vaccination status is unknown.
The health department noted that two doses of the MMR vaccine are 97% effective against measles.
Anyone interested in receiving a vaccination at the Anchorage Health Department can set up an appointment by calling 907-343-4799.
