A measles outbreak has been confirmed in Colorado after three people were exposed on a Turkish Airlines flight that landed in Denver on May 13. The individuals, including an out-of-state traveler and two others who were vaccinated but still became sick, have developed the highly infectious disease.
The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment has identified six “known exposure locations” where the infected individuals visited while contagious, including restaurants, a gym, and shops. These locations may pose a risk to public health if attendees develop symptoms.
Measles is spread through coughing or sneezing and can remain airborne for up to two hours. If you were at these locations during the exposure window and start showing symptoms, contact your healthcare provider immediately. Colorado officials are urging people to consider avoiding public gatherings or high-risk settings.
Symptoms of measles include fever, cough, runny nose, red eyes, and a characteristic rash, which can appear up to 21 days after exposure. The MMR vaccine provides strong protection against the disease, but even vaccinated individuals can still develop symptoms.
This outbreak is part of an ongoing rise in reports of measles exposures in the US. According to the CDC, there have been three deaths and over 1,000 confirmed cases of measles in the country this year alone.
Source: https://people.com/measles-outbreak-turkish-airlines-flight-denver-sickens-3-including-child-11745577