VIRAL ALERT

Plane Travelers Could Be Exposed as Measles Confirmed in Another State

The infected individual had recently returned from a trip abroad.

U.S. health officials have confirmed a measles case in a new state, amid fears that travelers at a busy metropolitan airport may have been exposed to the virus. According to the Washington Post, the virus was confirmed in an individual in Howard County, Maryland, who had recently returned from international travel. Though unrelated to the severe outbreak in Texas and New Mexico, which saw over 200 cases and two deaths, the Maryland case adds to a growing list of concerns. Local authorities are tracing potential exposures at Johns Hopkins Howard County Medical Center in Maryland and Dulles International Airport in Virginia, which serves the Washington/Baltimore area. With travelers potentially exposed at a bustling airport terminal, the risk of spread is a top priority for health officials. The virus, which spreads through the air or direct contact with droplets, remains one of the most infectious diseases globally, despite effective vaccines. Early symptoms include a high fever, runny nose, and red, watery eyes, followed by a rash. The Maryland case follows a recent fatality in New Mexico and the death of a child earlier this year in Texas. The CDC encourages vaccinations as the best protection against measles, warning vigilance as travel season looms, however, newly installed health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has previously claimed—incorrectly—that no vaccine is “safe and effective.”

Updated: An earlier version of this post said the previous fatality was in Virginia not Texas.

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