Health Scare In The Air: Measles Catch A Plane To SoCal
Health officials are in a hurry to determine exactly how many passenger may have been exposed to measles after an infected passenger visited 4 different airports throughout the U.S. on Feb 22.
"The infected New Mexico native traveled from London to Washington D.C. last week before boarding a Southwest Airlines flight in Baltimore two days later. She deplaned in Denver before boarding another flight to Albuquerque," reports KTLA, and the Southwest flight -- containing 138 passengers -- continued on to San Diego out of Denver.
The virus, which can linger on surfaces and in the air for up to 2 hours, puts unvaccinated travelers at risk. Measles has an incubation period of approximately 8 to 12 days, after which symptoms (fever, fatigue, red/watery eyes, cough, runny nose) can occur. Early symptoms "last an average of 3 to 4 days and will disappear 1 to 2 days before a rash appears," notes KTLA.
A person is considered mildly contagious at the onset of early symptoms and is most contagious 3 or 4 days before the rash appears. According to KTLA, those with weakened immune systems, senior citizens, babies, and pregnant women run the highest risk of contracting the disease. There is no known cure for measles, only treatment aimed to relieve symptoms.