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Travelers at Chicago airport may have been exposed to measles

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People at Chicago Midway International Airport may have been exposed to measles by an infected air passenger, according to Illinois health officials.

State health officials warned that an Illinois resident with an active case of measles was at the airport on the night of Feb. 22. The infected passenger was on a flight that arrived at the airport’s Concourse B, although officials did not say where the flight originated.

Officials warned that people may have been exposed to the virus if they were at the airport between 9 p.m. and midnight; Northwestern Medicine Delnor Hospital's ED, where the passenger sought treatment, between 11:45 a.m. and 2:15 p.m. on Feb. 24; or Northwestern Medicine Delnor Hospital from 4 to 6:15 p.m. on Feb. 24 and 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Feb. 25. Anyone infected could develop symptoms as late as March 20, officials said.

Measles is highly contagious and can remain infectious in the air for up to 2 hours after an infected person coughs or sneezes. It can cause serious complications, especially in people aged younger than 5 years and older than 20 years, according to the CDC. Measles is also highly preventable, with two doses of the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine being about 97% effective at stopping infection.

“Most people are vaccinated routinely in childhood and are not at high risk. Of most concern are people who have not been vaccinated,” officials said in a news release. “Individuals who think they have been exposed should check with their health care provider about protection through prior vaccination or the need for vaccination.”

Measles cases have been on the rise worldwide, and there are several ongoing outbreaks in the United States. In January, a state of emergency was declared in Clark County, Washington, after dozens of infections were reported, mostly in unvaccinated people. – by Caitlyn Stulpin

Reference:

IDPH. Potential measles exposure at Chicago Midway Airport and Northwestern Medicine Delnor Hospital. http://www.dph.illinois.gov/news/potential-measles-exposure-chicago-midway-airport-and-northwestern-medicine-delnor-hospital.