Newark Liberty Airport measles exposure alert

Health officials in New Jersey are warning anyone who was at Newark Liberty International Airport on Monday, March 12, 2018, about possible exposure to measles, a highly contagious disease.

A child with a confirmed case of measles arrived at Terminal B from Brussels, Belgium, and departed for Memphis from Terminal C on Monday, officials said. The child was infectious that day and may have visited other parts of the airport.

If you were at Newark Airport Monday between 12:45 p.m. and 9:00 p.m., you may have been exposed, according to the state's Department of Health. If you have not been vaccinated or have not had measles, you risk infection. If you were infected, you could develop symptoms as late as April 2.

"We urge everyone to check to make sure they and their family members are up-to-date on measles/mumps/rubella vaccine and all other age-appropriate immunizations," Dr. Christina Tan, a state epidemiologist, said in a statement. "Getting vaccinated not only protects you, it protects others around you who are too young to get the vaccine or can’t receive it for medical reasons."

Measles symptoms include rash, high fever, cough, runny nose, and red, watery eyes, health officials said. If you develop symptoms, call your doctor before you go to the ER, urgent care, or a doctor's office because special arrangements may need to be made to evaluate you while protecting staff and other patients from infection.

More Information

N.J. Department of Health: Measles

CDC: Measles