In a rather concerning public health update, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) confirmed that an out-of-state visitor with measles could have potentially exposed others during their stay in Boston and Westborough. The adult visitor, diagnosed with the contagious virus, was present in various locations earlier this month, as reported by the Massachusetts government.
Health officials provided a precise timeline of the individual's movements, including their arrival at Boston Logan Airport on December 11 at 2:39 p.m. via American Airlines flight 2384 from Dallas-Fort Worth, TX. Following a stay at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel in Westborough, the person left the state on December 12, headed to Las Vegas on JetBlue flight 117. The DPH, alongside the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), is now tasked with identifying and alerting people who may have been exposed. Worryingly, during the holiday travel spike, people could be downplaying the risk of exposure, not knowing the potential spread that has transpired.
Public Health Commissioner Robbie Goldstein emphasized the severity of the situation when he remarked, "Measles is a highly contagious, airborne disease, which has increased significantly in the United States because of the unfortunate decrease in vaccination rates. It is also a preventable disease." In a statement made by the Massachusetts government, Dr. Goldstein noted that measles was considered eliminated in the U.S. fifteen years ago, warning that this progress is now at risk. In 2025, the nation has recorded its highest number of cases in more than a decade—nearly 2,000 across 44 jurisdictions, including three deaths.
While the risk in Massachusetts is generally low thanks to high vaccination rates, the DPH recommends that those who visited the aforementioned locations during the specified times and who are not immune may be at risk for developing measles. Exposures may have occurred at Logan Airport Terminal B in Boston on December 11 from 2:30 p.m. to 4:45 p.m., the DoubleTree Hotel in Westborough between 3:30 p.m. on December 11 and 9:00 p.m. on December 12, and Logan Airport Terminal C from 6:00 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. on December 12. Visiting a healthcare facility with measles symptoms may put others at risk and should be avoided if possible, presenting a danger to unaware individuals if potentially contagious people visit these facilities.
As per guidelines from health officials, individuals who suspect they may have been exposed should contact their healthcare provider without visiting a clinic in person, as reported by Dr. Bisola Ojikutu, Commissioner of Public Health for the City of Boston. Symptoms to watch out for include a cold-like fever, cough, runny nose, and red eyes followed by a rash that typically lasts a few days. Ojikutu underscored the importance of vaccination, advising that "two doses of MMR vaccine are 97% effective at preventing measles and provides protection against mumps and rubella infection," as noted by the state's official website. She encouraged vaccination before traveling, especially for children over the age of 6 months headed to areas with active outbreaks.
The DPH is urging individuals to check their vaccination status or get vaccinated in light of the significant upswing in national measles cases this year, with the CDC reporting 1,988 cases. The majority of these cases involve unvaccinated individuals or those with unknown vaccination status. In response to these developments, Dr. Goldstein reiterated, "Vaccines are one of the most important public health interventions ever – they are safe, effective, and lifesaving," according to a report by the Massachusetts government. Healthcare providers with suspected measles cases are advised to contact the DPH immediately for guidance on testing and recommendations, providing a critical line of defense in the ongoing fight to control the spread of this preventable but perilous illness.
