Measles Alert Issued at Philadelphia International Airport Amid Rising US Cases
Health officials are sounding the alarm over a possible measles exposure at Philadelphia International Airport on Sunday, prompting them to warn travelers who may have been in close proximity to an infected individual. Those in terminals A and B between 8:50 a.m. and 4 p.m. Sunday are advised to check their vaccination status and watch for symptoms of the virus.
With the US recording its highest number of measles cases and deaths since the virus was declared eliminated in 2000, this latest outbreak is a grim reminder of the ongoing threat posed by measles. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there have been over 1,600 reported cases and three deaths through November 4.
Health Commissioner Dr. Palak Raval-Nelson explained that while the exposure does not pose an immediate threat to the general public, many countries are experiencing measles outbreaks, increasing the risk of travel-related cases in the US. The Department strongly encourages parents to follow the CDC's immunization schedule and get their children fully vaccinated as soon as possible.
Those who may have been exposed at the airport are advised to determine whether they are protected against measles, which means being born before 1957, having had measles, or receiving two doses of the MMR vaccine. For those not protected, health officials recommend quarantining at home for three weeks, wearing a mask when going out, and getting vaccinated.
In particular, vulnerable groups such as babies under 12 months, pregnant women who are not immune, and people with weakened immune systems should contact their healthcare providers immediately. Anyone who becomes symptomatic through November 30 and is not immune to measles should also seek medical attention right away.
Measles symptoms can be alarming but are relatively easy to recognize. Early signs include fever, runny nose, cough, and puffy, red eyes, followed by a distinctive rash. The virus spreads through droplets caused by sneezing and coughing and is highly contagious, infecting 9 out of 10 people exposed.
As the US grapples with its highest number of measles cases in decades, health officials urge travelers to take precautions and prioritize vaccination against this preventable disease.
Health officials are sounding the alarm over a possible measles exposure at Philadelphia International Airport on Sunday, prompting them to warn travelers who may have been in close proximity to an infected individual. Those in terminals A and B between 8:50 a.m. and 4 p.m. Sunday are advised to check their vaccination status and watch for symptoms of the virus.
With the US recording its highest number of measles cases and deaths since the virus was declared eliminated in 2000, this latest outbreak is a grim reminder of the ongoing threat posed by measles. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there have been over 1,600 reported cases and three deaths through November 4.
Health Commissioner Dr. Palak Raval-Nelson explained that while the exposure does not pose an immediate threat to the general public, many countries are experiencing measles outbreaks, increasing the risk of travel-related cases in the US. The Department strongly encourages parents to follow the CDC's immunization schedule and get their children fully vaccinated as soon as possible.
Those who may have been exposed at the airport are advised to determine whether they are protected against measles, which means being born before 1957, having had measles, or receiving two doses of the MMR vaccine. For those not protected, health officials recommend quarantining at home for three weeks, wearing a mask when going out, and getting vaccinated.
In particular, vulnerable groups such as babies under 12 months, pregnant women who are not immune, and people with weakened immune systems should contact their healthcare providers immediately. Anyone who becomes symptomatic through November 30 and is not immune to measles should also seek medical attention right away.
Measles symptoms can be alarming but are relatively easy to recognize. Early signs include fever, runny nose, cough, and puffy, red eyes, followed by a distinctive rash. The virus spreads through droplets caused by sneezing and coughing and is highly contagious, infecting 9 out of 10 people exposed.
As the US grapples with its highest number of measles cases in decades, health officials urge travelers to take precautions and prioritize vaccination against this preventable disease.
. I mean, 1,600+ reported cases? That's wild! And the worst part is, it's not even like we've forgotten how to stop it from spreading - we just need to make sure everyone's on the same page and follows the immunization schedule 
. I'm all for being cautious, but at the same time, let's not freak out over a few cases 
. We should be focusing on getting more people vaccinated, especially those who are vulnerable like babies or pregnant women 
. And can we please just make sure everyone knows how to identify the symptoms? I mean, it's not that hard - fever, runny nose, cough... it's all pretty basic 
.
! I've got my MMR vaccine, but what if people don't get vaccinated? It's like we're going back to school when there was that one kid who always brought his own lunch and nobody else did 
. You know how it affects everyone. I just hope everyone gets their shots so we can all go back to normal life... or at least not having to stay home with a bad cold 
. What if people get measles because they didn't take care of themselves? It's like when we don't do our homework and forget about an assignment 
. Anyway, I just hope the health officials keep us updated so we know what to do 
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I remember when I was a kid, we used to get vaccinated at school and it was mandatory, you know? Nowadays, it's all about personal responsibility, but that's not entirely bad. It just means we need to be more aware of our surroundings and take care of ourselves.
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- it's like, what's going on here? Rising US cases are super concerning & we need to get our priorities straight... vaccination is key! 
Those who aren't fully vaccinated (or never got the shots) should seriously take this risk seriously. Not just for themselves, but for their loved ones & vulnerable groups like babies & pregnant women 
And what's with all these travel-related cases? We need stricter airport protocols ASAP! 
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measles is so not a mystery anymore! i mean, it's 2025, shouldn't we be way past this by now? anyway, i'm kinda annoyed that ppl are stillnt getting vaccinated... like, come on fam, you can't just assume u r immune from one thing. get ur shots in 
especially when you think most people aren't even aware they're not vaccinated 
my grandma had the shot when she was a kid and I'm pretty sure I got the vaccine too 
gotta keep those communities protected 
and 1957? that's old school! how do they even know who got measles when? 
shouldn't they be tracking it better? 
and what's with the quarantine thing? 3 weeks at home is a bummer... can't we just get treated quickly instead? 
is it just a few cases or is it like an outbreak or something? i feel bad for all those people who might be exposed. 
meanwhile, measles cases are getting out of control in the us... 1600+ reported cases and 3 deaths is insane 
we really need to prioritize our health over some silly disease outbreaks 
. We need to stay vigilant & prioritize vaccination, especially with kids under 12 months going around 
. Let's get everyone vaccinated ASAP! 
. One case at an airport isn't gonna bring back the virus or cause a major outbreak. And btw, what's with all these new cases in the US? Shouldn't they be getting vaccinated if they're not already? I mean, it's not like this is some exotic disease that only affects certain people. Just get your shots and move on. And another thing, three weeks of quarantine at home? That's a total drag. Let's focus on more pressing issues than measles 
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As someone who's been lucky enough to have had two doses of MMR as a kid, I feel pretty safe, but what about all those people who aren't protected? 
. I've been seeing so many parents scrambling to get their kids caught up on their shots, and honestly, it's a good thing we have the MMR vaccine now 
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. But seriously, if you've been to Philly recently, make sure you check your vaccine status. Don't be that person who gets measles and has to cancel their Netflix binge-watching plans 
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meanwhile let's hope our healthcare system can keep up with all these cases 
️ and it's making me think how easy it is for these outbreaks to happen... like, what's the deal with people not getting vaccinated? 
. It's wild that we're having our highest number of cases since 2000 
. We gotta take precautions and prioritize vaccination, especially for vulnerable groups 
. Let's all just look out for each other and get vaccinated, you feel? 
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