Traveler with confirmed case of measles passed through Sea-Tac: officials

US News

By Olivia Terre

A traveler with a contagious case of measles passed through Seattle-Tacoma International Airport in mid-May, officials said.

Authorities were informed Thursday that an adult with measles had passed through the busy airport on May 10 and 11 “while contagious,” Seattle and King County Public Health said Friday.

The traveler — whose name has not been made public — resides in Arizona and was likely exposed to measles while traveling to or in Europe, officials added.

The individual’s vaccination status is unknown.

“Measles is very contagious and if you don’t have immunity, you can catch it just by being in a room where someone with measles has been,” said Dr. Eric Chow, chief of communicable diseases for Seattle and King County Public Health. .

“We have seen an increase in measles cases around the world and in the United States, so now is an important time to check your vaccination status and get vaccinated if you are not protected,” he said. added.

Measles symptoms usually appear within seven to 14 days after contact with the virus, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Common symptoms include a telltale rash, high fever, cough, and runny nose.

According to experts, two doses of the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine are about 97% effective in preventing measles.

Other travelers who passed through Sea-Tac Airport, which handled 50.8 million passengers last year, between 5:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. on May 10, as well as those who were around its Concourse A between 7:30 a.m. and 11 p.m.: On May 11, at 30 a.m., they are at risk of exposure, region officials said.

Those who may have been exposed to the infected traveler were encouraged to check their vaccination status and call their doctor immediately if they developed possible symptoms.

The potential exposure to a major international travel hub came two months after the CDC tightened its travel guidelines amid reports of an international measles outbreak.

“The majority of imported measles cases in the United States occur in unvaccinated U.S. residents who become infected during international travel,” the agency said in March.

As of Friday, 146 cases of measles had been reported in the United States, more than double the annual total of 58 in 2023, according to CDC data.

The majority of reported measles cases involved patients under 5 years old.

Eighty-three percent of patients were not vaccinated or did not know their vaccination status.