Health officials scramble to contain possible measles outbreak at Newark Airport

The New Jersey Department of Health says that an international traveler infected with measles arrived at Terminal B on a flight from Brussels.

News 12 Staff

Dec 29, 2018, 5:13 PM

Updated 2,174 days ago

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New Jersey health officials are working to contain another possible outbreak of the measles after a passenger with measles flew into Newark Liberty International Airport on Christmas Eve.
The New Jersey Department of Health says that an international traveler infected with measles arrived at Terminal B on a flight from Brussels. Anyone who was in the terminal between 12 p.m. and 4 p.m. on Dec. 24 may have been exposed.
Symptoms of measles include a rash, high fever, cough, runny nose and red, watery eyes. Symptoms could show up as late as Jan. 14, according to officials.
“Anyone who has not been vaccinated or has not had measles is at risk if they are exposed,” Dr. Christina Tan, state epidemiologist, said in a statement. “We urge everyone to check to make sure they and their family members are up-to-date on…immunizations.”
Anyone who believes that they may have been infected should contact their health provider before leaving their home to seek treatment. This is to limit the amount of other people exposed to the disease.
Health officials also say that this latest measles case is not related to a measles outbreak in Ocean and Passaic counties. In that case, a New Jersey resident who returned from a trip to Israel started an outbreak that infected 30 people in Lakewood and three others in Passaic County.