Boston health officials are alerting late-night travelers after a person infected with measles passed through Logan International Airport’s Terminal C shortly after midnight on Tuesday, April 14. Anyone who was in Terminal C between 12:00 a.m. and 2:30 a.m. that morning may have been exposed, officials said. The traveler had flown in from Fort Lauderdale, left Logan in a privately owned vehicle, and then continued on to another state. The Boston Public Health Commission and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health are now working to identify and notify anyone who might have crossed paths with the traveler.
Where Exposure May Have Happened
According to WHDH, the traveler arrived from Fort Lauderdale and moved through Terminal C shortly after midnight on April 14. Boston 25 News reports that the person was on JetBlue Flight 470, and both outlets note that the traveler departed Logan by private vehicle before heading out of state. Public health teams are now tracing contacts and reaching out to people who may have been exposed during that early-morning window.
What Officials Are Urging
"This case of measles underscores the continued importance of obtaining the MMR vaccine," Boston Public Health Commission head Dr. Bisola Ojikutu said in a statement, according to WHDH. She reminded parents that children should get their first MMR dose between 12 and 15 months of age and a second dose before starting kindergarten, and stressed that adults who never got the shot can still roll up their sleeves.
If You Were at Terminal C
Health officials say anyone who was in Terminal C between 12:00 a.m. and 2:30 a.m. on April 14 and is unvaccinated or unsure of their immunity should call their health care provider before seeking in-person care and should avoid public spaces in the meantime, per Boston 25 News. People who may have been exposed are being advised to watch for symptoms through May 5. For questions about possible exposure, post-exposure vaccination, or immune globulin, the city’s measles resource page directs residents to call the Boston Public Health Commission at 617-534-5611 or the Massachusetts Department of Public Health at 617-983-6800.
Why Measles Spreads So Fast
Measles is famously contagious. Federal guidance notes that the virus can hang in the air or on surfaces for up to two hours after an infected person leaves an area, and that illness typically develops 7 to 21 days after exposure. People with measles are usually able to spread the virus from about four days before the rash appears through four days after it shows up. According to the CDC, two doses of the MMR vaccine, with the first given at 12 to 15 months and the second before kindergarten, provide the strongest protection. CDC guidance also lays out post-exposure steps, including getting vaccinated within 72 hours of exposure or receiving immune globulin in certain situations.
Local Outlook
Contact tracing and outreach are ongoing as Boston and state health officials work to track down potentially exposed travelers from that overnight window at Logan. The Boston Public Health Commission has updated its measles resource page with frequently asked questions, clinic locations, and detailed guidance for both medical providers and the general public.
Where to Get More Information
Residents who have questions about possible exposure or vaccination are urged to review the Boston Public Health Commission’s measles information page and to call their health care provider before going to a clinic or emergency room, in order to reduce the risk of exposing others. The BPHC site also includes vaccination clinic details and repeats the hotlines listed above for anyone seeking further guidance.
