Measles Exposure at Newark Liberty International Airport

Recently, health officials reported that a traveler infected with measles passed through Newark Liberty International Airport.

The individual was in Terminal C on July 29 from 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. and then moved to Terminal A on July 30 between 1:30 p.m. and 7 p.m., according to the state Department of Health.

Officials are advising that anyone who was at those terminals during those times might have been exposed to the virus.

They recommend that anyone who feels they may be infected should contact the state health department or their healthcare provider before going to a medical facility.

Symptoms of measles include a high fever, cough, runny nose, red watery eyes, and a rash, which usually shows up about three to five days after the initial symptoms. If someone was exposed, symptoms could develop as late as August 20, the health department noted.

Those who are particularly at risk are individuals who aren’t fully vaccinated or who haven’t had measles in the past.

This year, New Jersey has documented seven cases of measles among residents, three of which stemmed from a household outbreak in February.

Measles is known to be highly contagious and can spread easily when an infected individual talks, coughs, or sneezes.

In severe cases, the virus can lead to complications like pneumonia or encephalitis, and it poses additional risks for pregnant women, including miscarriage or low birth weight for newborns, according to officials.

People infected with measles are contagious from four days before the rash appears until four days after the rash is first seen.

The virus can linger in the air for up to two hours after an infected person has left the vicinity, making it quite easy to contract through airborne transmission or contact with contaminated fluids.