Measles exposure reported at O’Hare

CHICAGO — Anyone who visited O’Hare International Airport on Wednesday morning or afternoon and who has not had a measles vaccination may need to be tested after a passenger with a confirmed case of the highly contagious disease landed and boarded another flight, Illinois health officials said.

A passenger with a confirmed case of measles landed at the international terminal (Terminal 5) on Wednesday morning and departed on a domestic flight from Terminal 1, according to a statement from the Illinois Department of Public Health.

The passenger, who was “infectious on that day, may have traveled to other areas of the airport,” the department’s statement said. People who were at O’Hare between 6:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. could have been exposed, the statement said.

Though “most people have been vaccinated routinely in childhood and are not at high risk … of most concern are people who have not been vaccinated,” the statement said.

“If a person believes they were exposed and have developed symptoms, they should contact a health care provider to arrange for an exam to be done in a place where others will not be exposed,” said IDPH spokeswoman Melaney Arnold in an emailed statement.

For those who know they have not been vaccinated, the provider would make the determination about testing.

“Incubation period, symptoms, and numerous other things are discussed when determining if testing is needed,” Arnold said in the statement.

Local health departments are working to notify Illinois residents who were identified as being potentially exposed on the ill person’s flights.

If infected, a patient could develop symptoms as late as Jan. 31. Symptoms include rash, high fever, cough, runny nose and red, watery eyes. If these develop, the department recommends a call to a health care provider before going to a medical office or emergency department. Special arrangements can be made for evaluation while also protecting other patients and medical staff from possible infection.

Measles can cause serious complications such as pneumonia and encephalitis (swelling of the brain), and is “easily spread through the air when someone coughs or sneezes,” the department said.

People can also get sick when they come in contact with mucus or saliva from an infected person, the statement said.

“Two doses of measles vaccine are about 97 percent effective in preventing measles,” department Chief Medical Officer Dr. Jennifer Layden said.

“We urge everyone to make sure they and family members are up-todate on measles/mumps/ rubella (MMR) vaccine and all other age-appropriate immunizations.”