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Officials in Philadelphia warned that travelers passing through a federal inspection area at Philadelphia International Airport on a Friday afternoon may have been exposed to measles. The Philadelphia Department of Public Health stated that a person with measles was traveling through Terminal A West between 2:50 and 6 p.m. on Friday, May 31. This highly contagious virus could have exposed individuals in that area to the disease.
Dr. Landrus Burress, director of the city Division of Disease Control, stated that they believe there is no threat to the general public from this case of measles. However, with many countries experiencing measles outbreaks, the risk of travel-related cases and subsequent outbreaks in the United States has increased. It is not clear whether the person with measles had traveled abroad or if they were vaccinated.
Overall, while the threat to the general public may be low, it is still important for individuals who may have been exposed to measles at the airport to monitor their health and seek medical advice if needed. The increased risk of measles outbreaks underscores the importance of vaccination and public health measures to prevent the spread of infectious diseases.