Thousands of people have been exposed to measles at airports in Detroit, New Jersey and Memphis.
Officials confirmed this week that two international travelers with the viral infection passed through the Detroit Metropolitan airport, Memphis International Airport and the Newark Liberty International airport.
Measles is so contagious that if one person has it, there’s a 90 percent chance that someone close to that person who has not been vaccinated against the illness will catch it too.
Symptoms usually take seven to 14 days to develop, and officials are urging passengers to be vigilant over a possible measles outbreak.
Travelers who visited airports in Detroit, Memphis and Newark (pictured) may have been exposed to the measles
The respiratory illness can be spread through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes or by touching a contaminated object.
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) released a statement yesterday saying that a person with the infection traveled from India and landed in Detroit Metropolitan Airport on March 6.
They are asking people who were in the airport’s north terminal between 2pm and 5pm that day to seek medical attention if they develop any symptoms of the disease.
People exposed to the measles at the Detroit airport may develop symptoms by next week.
Passengers at the Newark airport in New Jersey between 12.45pm and 9pm on Monday were also exposed to the respiratory infection.
Officials said a young child diagnosed with measles arrived to Newark airport from Brussels then flew to Memphis that evening.
Those who were exposed to the measles at Newark or Memphis airports may develop symptoms as late as April 2.
‘This case underscores the importance of following vaccine recommendations and being up-to-date on vaccines,’ said Dr. Eden Wells, MDHHS Chief Medical Executive. ‘Immunizations are the best way to protect our families and communities from the harmful, sometimes deadly consequences of vaccine-preventable diseases like measles.’
There has been a recent uptick in measles cases worldwide.
In 2017, the number of cases rose 400 percent in Europe due to vaccination fears.
Earlier this year, a measles outbreak impacted more than 100 people across five regions in England.
Symptoms of the disease, which includes cough, sensitivity to light, red eyes, and loss of appetite, don’t appear until 10 to 12 days after being exposed to the virus.
Children younger than five years old and adults older than 20 years old are more likely to suffer from measles complications, such as ear infections and diarrhea.
Severe complications of the disease include pneumonia and swelling of the brain.
According to the CDC, about one out of every 20 children with measles gets pneumonia, which is the most common cause of death from measles in young children.
The disease can be prevented with the MMR vaccine.
Two doses of the MMR vaccine – which is only licensed for use in children who are 12 months through 12 years of age – is 97 percent effective against measles. While, one dose is 93 percent effective against the respiratory infection.
However, the CDC recommends that adults born after 1957 who may not have received the MMR shot to get at least one dose.