Logan Airport travelers might have been exposed to measles, health officials warn
Travelers at Boston Logan International Airport earlier this month might have been exposed to measles, health officials warned Wednesday.
The Boston Public Health Commission and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health said in a press release that a person with measles visited Terminal C at Logan Airport shortly after midnight on Tuesday, April 14. The person traveled to Boston on JetBlue Airways flight 470, which departed from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, at 8:54 p.m. on Monday, April 13.
Health officials said they are working with local partners to identify and notify anyone who might have been exposed. Any unvaccinated individuals who have been exposed are urged to contact their healthcare provider immediately. Unvaccinated exposed individuals also need to avoid public places like school, work, public transit and stores and monitor for symptoms for 21 days, through May 5, 2026.
Anyone who spent time in Boston Logan Airport Terminal C between 12-2:30 a.m. on April 14 might have been exposed to measles, health officials said.
The infected individual left Logan Airport in a privately owned vehicle and traveled out of state. There are no other known exposure points in Boston at this time.
Measles vaccination is up to 97% effective in preventing measles and protecting against severe disease, according to health officials. In Suffolk County, 94% of children are fully vaccinated against measles. There have been two confirmed measles cases in Massachusetts residents this year.
“This case of measles underscores the continued importance of obtaining the MMR vaccine. The MMR vaccine is highly effective at preventing measles infection and also protects against mumps and rubella. This vaccine is the best tool we have to protect ourselves and our communities from serious illness,” Dr. Bisola Ojikutu, Boston’s commissioner of public health, said in a statement. “Children should receive the vaccine at 12-15 months of age and again before kindergarten to ensure strong immunity. It is never too late for children or adults to get the measles vaccine and for the vaccine to be effective, even if they are past the age recommended by doctors. As measles cases continue to surge across our country, we should all ensure that we are vaccinated to prevent spread and serious illness.”
Measles is a highly contagious virus that begins with flu-like symptoms, including cough, high fever, runny nose, and red, watery eyes, followed by a red, blotchy rash that spreads from the face to the rest of the body. Measles easily spreads when someone with measles breathes, coughs, or sneezes. It can also spread if people touch surfaces or items with the virus within two hours after the infected person was in the area. Measles infection can occur 7-21 days after direct or indirect contact with another person with measles.
For information and guidance on measles, visit boston.gov/measles. Healthcare providers who suspect measles should call their local health department or the Massachusetts Department of Public Health at 617-983-6800 immediately for recommendations and testing guidance.
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