Public Health Seattle and King County issued an alert after being notified that an adult with a confirmed case of infectious measles traveled through Seattle-Tacoma International Airport following travels in Europe.
The confirmed infection came after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued an alert to public health officials warning that the number of Measles cases in the US This year has already equaled the entirety of 2023.
The alert from Seattle and King County said the infectious adult traveled through the international airport on May 10 and 11 and that the person's measles vaccination status was unclear.
Health officials said the individual resided in Arizona and likely contracted the infectious disease while in Europe. The agency did not specify which country or countries the individual traveled to.
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Measles concept as a deadly outbreak immunize, illness and viral illness like contagious chickenpox or skin rash in a 3D illustration style. (iStock)
Health officials said the individual used the S Concourse (Gate S1) on May 10 between 5:30 pm and 9:30 pm. They went through customs to the baggage claim area of the international arrivals facility (Carousel 19).
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On May 11, between approximately 7:30 am and 11:30 am, the individual was in Concourse A (Door A8).
Measles outbreaks in the United States and abroad are raising health experts' concerns about the once-common, preventable childhood virus. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig, File)
Seattle health officials said if people believe they were exposed at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, they should:
- Find out if you have been vaccinated against measles or if you have had measles before. Make sure you are up to date with the recommended amount of measles vaccines (MMR).
- Call a healthcare provider right away if you develop an illness with fever or an unexplained rash. To avoid the possibility of spreading measles to others, do not go to a clinic or hospital without calling first to tell them you want to be tested for measles after exposure.
- Limit contact with other people, especially those without known immunity.
If you were in the places mentioned above and are not immune to measles, the most likely time you would get sick would be between May 17, 2024 and June 1, 2024. Immunocompromised people may take longer to recover. experience symptoms.
The photographic illustration shows the skin of a patient affected by measles. (iStock)
The health concern at the international airport came after a CDC alert to public health officials said the number of Measles cases in the US This year has already equaled the entirety of 2023.
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“From January 1 to March 14, 2024, CDC has been notified of 58 confirmed cases of measles in the United States in 17 jurisdictions, including seven buds in seven jurisdictions compared to a total of 58 cases and four outbreaks reported for all of 2023,” he said in the statement.
“Among the 58 cases reported in 2024, 54 (93%) were related to international travel,” the CDC continued, adding that “many countries, including travel destinations such as Austria, the Philippines, Romania, and the United Kingdom, are experiencing outbreaks of measles.”
A measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine on a 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 (inflammation of the brain), and death, especially in unvaccinated people.”
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“To prevent measles infection and reduce the risk of community transmission from importation, all US residents traveling abroad, regardless of their destination, should be up to date on their MMR vaccinations,” the alert said. “Health care providers should ensure that children are up to date on routine vaccines, including MMR.”
