Measles travel scare

Exposure at airports

Travelers at five US airports — including busy hubs in Chicago and Los Angeles — have recently been exposed to the measles virus, sparking concerns that the highly contagious disease might spread across the country.

In Chicago, an infected person passed through O’Hare International Airport twice in the course of a week — in Terminal 1 on Dec. 17 and at Terminal 3 on Dec. 12, ABC News reported, citing publichealth officials.

Meanwhile, a person with the measles visited Richmond International Airport in Virginia on Dec. 17, as well as a local medical office a couple of days later, state health officials said.

In Texas, a person with a diagnosed case of measles was at the United Airlines gate area at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport on Dec. 17, according to Austin Public Health.

The individual — who is believed to have been on a flight between Austin and Chicago — also may have exposed thousands of people across several locations in the city, including eateries and a grocery store, KTRK reported.

“Measles is an acute, highly contagious viral disease,” said Dr. Mark Escott, medical director for Austin’s publichealth office.

“A small number of cases are capable of quickly producing epidemics. The best way to protect yourself and your family against measles and other vaccine-preventable diseases is by immunization,” he added.

Meanwhile, in early December, three unvaccinated children who had traveled to New Zealand tested positive for the disease when they returned to the United States Newsweek reported.

New Zealand is in the midst of a measles outbreak, with 2,172 cases reported this year as of Dec. 11.

The kids passed through several parts of Denver International Airport on Dec. 11, including Concourse A, the baggage area and the pickup area, Colorado’s local health officials said.

They later traveled through Terminals 4 and 5 at Los Angeles International Airport, according to the city’s Department of Public Health.

This month’s exposures cap off the worst year for measles in more than two decades.

The virus was responsible for more than 140,000 deaths across the globe last year, according to the World Health Organization.