Traveler With Measles Went To Philly Airport On Fourth Of July

PHILADELPHIA — People at Philadelphia International Airport on the Fourth of July may have been exposed to measles, health officials said.

A person who traveled through Philadelphia tested positive for the disease. Health officials warned of possible exposure for anyone who was in Terminals A, B or C between 7:30 a.m. and 11:15 a.m. on July 4.

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Once declared eliminated in the United States, measles has resurged in recent years due to declining vaccination rates, according to health experts. Three Americans died from the disease last year.

The Philadelphia Department of Public Health encourages people who may have been exposed to check their vaccination status and watch for symptoms. People who aren't protected against measles can get the virus up to 2 hours after someone with measles left the same room or airspace.

Early symptoms include fever, runny nose, cough, and red, watery eyes, followed by rash. In some people, it can cause serious infection that leads to pneumonia, brain infection and death.

Children younger than 5 are especially vulnerable to serious health complications from measles.

There has recently been elevated measles activity in Pennsylvania, which has centered around Lancaster and Lebanon counties and extended into Chester County.

"We strongly encourage parents to follow the CDC’s immunization schedule and get their children fully vaccinated as soon as they are able," said Philadelphia Health Commissioner Dr. Palak Raval-Nelson. "People planning to travel outside the United States or to locations within the United States with large outbreaks, including the counties that are part of the PA outbreak, should speak with their doctor about their travel plans and vaccinations needed."

For more information on measles, visit the CDC's webpage and view the Philadelphia Health Department's advisory.