Philadelphia health officials issue measles exposure alert for airport travelers
The Philadelphia Department of Public Health warned that a measles-infected traveler passed through terminals at Philadelphia International Airport on Sept. 13-14, urging potentially exposed individuals to verify vaccination status.
The Philadelphia Department of Public Health announced that a person with measles was present in Philadelphia International Airport from the evening of Sept. 13 until early morning on Sept. 14, moving through terminals B and F and adjacent areas linked to terminals C, D and E. The individual did not leave the airport during that period.
Health officials advised anyone who was in the affected areas and who is not immune, is unsure of vaccination status, is an infant, pregnant, or immunocompromised to contact a health provider promptly and to monitor for symptoms.
The warning follows a separate exposure at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia that involved several units, including the neonatal intensive care unit, on Sept. 11.
State data show Pennsylvania has recorded 792 measles cases, 155 hospitalizations and four deaths. Nationwide, the CDC reports more than 3,400 cases this year, with vaccination coverage among kindergartners falling to 92.4% for the 2025-2026 school year, down from 95.2% in 2019-2020.
"This week’s measles exposures are a reminder of how important it is for all of us to be up to date on our vaccinations," said Philadelphia Health Commissioner Dr. Palak Raval-Nelson.
The CDC recommends two doses of the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, the first at 12-15 months of age and the second at 4-6 years.