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Measles Alert Issued For Chicago O’Hare Airport

A measles alert has been issued Monday for Chicago O’Hare International Airport, four days after a passenger on flights passing through two of its terminals was diagnosed with the virus.

According to a statement taken by ABC News and released by the Illinois Department of Public Health, sometime between 6:30 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. on January 10, “a passenger on an international flight with a confirmed case of measles arrived in Terminal 5” and then “departed on a domestic flight from Terminal 1.”

The statement further stated that the passenger was “infectious on that day” and “may have traveled to other parts of the airport.”

This is the second case of potential exposure to measles in United States airports this year. Last week, a college student flying in from Mumbai, India to Indianapolis International Airport by way of Newark Liberty International Airport was confirmed to have been positively diagnosed with the measles.

In that case, the State of New Jersey Department of Health warned passengers who may have been at the airport on January 2 that there was “an international traveler” who had a “confirmed case of measles” and had gone into “self-isolation.”

Measles is caused by a highly contagious virus that can be transmitted through the air. Symptoms include rashes, high fever, runny nose, cough and water eyes, which may not appear until a few days up to a few weeks after contact.

The Illinois Department of Public Health stated that passengers may not see any symptoms. It did not say which flights or airline companies the passenger flew on, or if there was any treatment administered.

A spokesperson said, “Those who were considered most at risk are being contacted directly by health officials.” The agency added that anyone who is concerned they might have contracted the measles should “call a health care provider before going to a medical office or emergency department.”

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