Passengers who passed through Newark Liberty International Airport’s Terminal B earlier this week are on alert after a confirmed measles case involving a non-resident traveler. The New Jersey Department of Health identified the potential exposure window as Monday from 12:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., according to an announcement reported by CBS News New York.
While the patient in question is reportedly not from New Jersey, no further cases have been linked to this incident yet, but those who were potentially exposed could see symptoms emerge as late as June 2. As measles can be highly contagious, and particularly dangerous for the unvaccinated or those who've never had it—health officials are urging caution. According to NBC New York, anyone who suspects they've been exposed is advised to first call their healthcare provider before rushing to a medical facility, to reduce further spread of the virus.
Common signs to watch out for include high fever, cough, runny nose, watery red eyes, and later, a rash characterized by flat red spots. The New Jersey Department of Health has emphasized that the virus can linger in the air for up to two hours after an infected person coughs or sneezes, creating a window of risk for transmission, a detail echoed by health officials.
Amid this health scare, officials also remind the public of the importance of the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine. Emphasizing its critical role in preventing outbreaks, the vaccine is administered in two doses, typically in early childhood, but adults can also receive a shot if there's concern over waning immunity. The CDC has previously stated, and as reported by NBC New York, that getting an additional MMR shot as an adult is "harmless if there are concerns about waning immunity," and people immunized prior to 1968 with an earlier "ineffective vaccine" should be revaccinated. Furthermore, measles, encounters greater difficulty spreading in communities where vaccination rates exceed 95%, a threshold for so-called "herd immunity."
Symptom treatment for measles tends to focus on comfort and the prevention of complications, as there's no specific treatment for the disease itself. But, with the advent of vaccines, historically formidable diseases like measles can be kept at bay. According to health experts, strict adherence to vaccination schedules remains our best defense against such infectious threats.
