Measles Alert At Newark Airport, Traveler Came From Japan: NJDOH

NEWARK, NJ — State health officials issued a public health alert Tuesday after an international traveler infected with measles passed through Newark Airport last month.

According to the New Jersey Department of Health (NJDOH), a traveler who has been confirmed to have had measles — a highly contagious disease — arrived in Terminal B at Newark Liberty International Airport from Tokyo, Japan on Wednesday, May 29.

“The individual was infectious while at the airport and may have exposed others to measles,” health officials stated. “If you were in Newark Liberty International Airport between May 29 at 5 p.m. and May 30 at 3:30 p.m., you may have been exposed to measles and, if infected, could develop symptoms as late as June 20.”

The individual departed for Quebec, Canada from Terminal A, officials said.

New Jersey residents identified as potentially exposed on the ill individual’s flights will be notified by their local health department. In the event that additional exposures are identified, an update will be provided, officials said.

“Anyone who suspects an exposure is urged to call a health care provider before going to a medical office or emergency department,” health officials said. “Special arrangements can be made for evaluation while also protecting other patients and medical staff from possible infection.”

According to the NJDOH:

“Measles symptoms include rash, high fever, cough, runny nose and red, watery eyes. It can cause serious complications such as pneumonia and encephalitis (swelling of the brain). Measles infection in a pregnant woman can lead to miscarriage, premature birth or a low-birth-weight baby. Measles is easily spread through the air when someone coughs or sneezes. People can also get sick when they come in contact with mucus or saliva from an infected person.”

Anyone who has not been vaccinated or has not had measles is at risk if they are exposed, officials said.

RECENT MEASLES ALERTS AT NEWARK AIRPORT

Last month, state health officials issued a measles alert for Newark Airport just before the Memorial Day weekend kicked off. According to the NJDOH, an international traveler with measles passed through Terminal B at Newark Airport on May 8. The traveler – who is not a New Jersey resident – arrived from Vienna, Austria.

• See related article: Traveler From Austria Brought Measles Into Newark Airport

According to NJDOH officials, an international traveler from Israel infected with measles arrived in Terminal C at Newark Airport on Tuesday, April 16. The passenger's flight originated in Tel Aviv, authorities said.

• See related article: Measles At Newark Airport, Traveler Arrived From Israel

In March, NJDOH officials issued a measles alert for Newark Airport after an international traveler infected with the disease passed through Terminal C after arriving from Aruba.

• See related article: Measles Alert At Newark Airport; Traveler Came From Aruba

In December 2018, an international traveler who has been confirmed to have measles arrived in Terminal B at Newark Liberty International Airport on a flight from Brussels. The individual was infectious on that day and may have traveled to other areas of the airport, officials said.

• See related article: Traveler Brought Measles To Newark Airport On Christmas Eve

In October 2018, the New Jersey Department of Health (DOH) issued an alert about "potential measles exposure" at Newark Liberty International Airport on Wednesday after an international traveler from Israel was confirmed to have the "highly contagious disease."

According to the DOH, the infected traveler arrived in Terminal B at Newark Liberty International Airport on a flight from Tel Aviv on Sept. 28.

• See related article: Measles Alert At Newark Airport; Traveler Continued To NY

In May 2018, the DOH issued an alert that travelers who passed through Terminal C at Newark Liberty International Airport on May 2 may have possibly been exposed to measles.

"In two unrelated incidents, an individual with measles stopped briefly in the state on April 30 while on a tour bus traveling from Niagara Falls, New York to Washington DC, and a Bergen County resident developed measles after contact with an international traveler who was ill with measles," DOH officials stated.

Locations that may have been exposed included sites in Englewood and Columbia, in addition to the airport, officials said.

• See related article: Newark Airport Measles Alert Is 3rd This Year

In March 2018, the NJDOH released a public health advisory that an international traveler from Brussels with a confirmed case of the "highly contagious disease" passed through the busy airport on their way to Memphis, Tennessee.

The suspected carrier, a young child, was reportedly infectious on that day and may have traveled to other areas of the airport, officials said.

• See related article: Measles Alert At Newark Airport; Child Was 'Infectious,' DOH Says

In January 2018, the NJDOH issued a precautionary alert in connection with a person with measles who traveled through Newark Liberty International Airport.

The source of the alert, an Indiana University student, had a "confirmed case" of the highly contagious disease when she traveled through the airport, authorities said.

• See related article: New Jersey Measles Alert; College Student Flew Into Newark

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