Officers warn about attainable measles exposures in Boston and Westborough

Well being

A customer with measles flew into Logan Airport in Boston on Dec. 11 and stayed in a single day at a lodge in Westborough, officers mentioned.

An individual with a confirmed measles prognosis visited Massachusetts earlier this month, and officers are now warning the general public in regards to the potential unfold of the illness. 

The customer arrived at Logan Airport on Dec. 11 at 2:39 p.m. They flew on American Airways flight 2384 from Dallas-Fort Value. They stayed in a single day on the DoubleTree by Hilton Resort in Westborough. The individual flew out of Logan at 9:19 p.m. on Dec. 12, boarding JetBlue flight 117 to Las Vegas, in keeping with the Massachusetts Division of Public Well being. 

Officers say that exposures to the contaminated individual could have occurred on the following places and instances: 

• Logan Airport Terminal B, between 2:30 and 4:45 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 11.
• DoubleTree by Hilton Resort Boston-Westborough, in Westborough, between 3:30 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 11 and 9 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 12.
• Logan Airport Terminal C, between 6 and 11:30 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 12. 

Measles is an especially contagious illness that spreads by the air when an contaminated individual sneezes, coughs, or talks. It will probably linger within the air for as much as two hours. The virus could be unfold by the air or issues like tissues and cups. 

Measles usually lasts per week or two. Early signs are just like these seen in some circumstances of the chilly or the flu: a cough, excessive fever, runny nostril, and pink, watery eyes. A pink, blotchy rash seems on the face just a few days after an infection, and may later unfold to the remainder of the individual’s physique. 

Signs usually seem between 10 and 14 days after an individual is uncovered. The illness could be unfold starting 4 days earlier than the rash seems and for 4 days afterwards. 

Measles is most harmful for kids underneath the age of 5, adults over 20, pregnant girls, and folks with weakened immune methods. It will probably result in diarrhea, ear infections, pneumonia and different harmful results. 

The chance to most individuals in Massachusetts is low, officers say, as a result of the state has one of many highest vaccination charges within the nation. 

“Measles is a extremely contagious, airborne illness, which has elevated considerably in the USA due to the unlucky lower in vaccination charges. Additionally it is a preventable illness,” mentioned Public Well being Commissioner Robbie Goldstein in an announcement. 

With federal officers within the Trump administration casting doubt on the security of vaccines, state officers have been outspoken of their help for vaccines. After the CDC up to date its web site final month to say that the assertion “vaccines don’t trigger autism” shouldn’t be “evidence-based,” Gov. Maura Healey issued a prolonged assertion calling these actions “disturbing and unhappy.”

In responding to the latest measles information, Goldstein echoed Healey’s sentiment that vaccines are protected and efficient. 

“This present state of affairs serves as an necessary reminder of the essential function vaccination performs in defending our communities. Whereas Massachusetts has not had a measles case this 12 months, 2025 noticed the best variety of nationwide circumstances in additional than a decade – practically 2,000 in 44 jurisdictions, and sadly, three deaths. Fifteen years in the past, measles had been thought-about eradicated in the USA, however that great progress is in danger. Vaccines are one of the vital necessary public well being interventions ever – they’re protected, efficient, and lifesaving,” he mentioned. 

In March, Vermont officers warned the general public a couple of confirmed measles case in a toddler. The identical month, public well being officers in Washington, D.C. mentioned {that a} man who examined constructive for measles boarded an Amtrak practice at South Station in Boston and took it to the nation’s capital.

Officers are urging anybody who has not been vaccinated or doesn’t know their measles immunization standing to contact their healthcare suppliers and get vaccinated if crucial. A measles vaccine administered inside 72 hours of publicity could forestall the illness from taking maintain, in keeping with the DPH. 

“This case is a reminder that everybody must be vaccinated in opposition to measles to guard themselves and others from this extremely infectious illness. With a number of measles outbreaks throughout the nation and elevated journey across the holidays, now is a crucial time to make sure that you and your loved ones are protected. Two doses of MMR vaccine are 97% efficient at stopping measles and offers safety in opposition to mumps and rubella an infection,” Boston Public Well being Commissioner Bisola Ojikutu mentioned in an announcement.