Health department officials in three cities are warning that a measles-infected traveler has visited their major metropolitan airports.
Officials in Chicago; Richmond, Virginia; and Austin, Texas, issued their warnings on Christmas Eve.
The person contracted measles while traveling in Europe from late November to early December, according to the Austin American Statesman, and became sick Dec. 14.
The subject, identified only as a man, developed a rash Dec. 17 and boarded United Airlines Flight 790 that same day from Austin to Chicago with a connecting flight to Virginia.
Earlier this month, three unvaccinated children with measles also traveled to Denver and Los Angeles airports from New Zealand.
This year, the United States has witnessed the second-greatest number of reported measles cases since the disease was eliminated in 2000.
Health officials said this is a textbook example why it's critical to vaccinate against measles, the leading cause of vaccine-preventable deaths in the world.
The CDC recommends that all children get two doses of measles vaccine, which experts say is 97% effective.
Symptoms of measles include high fever, cough, runny nose, red and watery eyes, Koplik’s spots and a rash, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Symptoms usually appear seven to 14 days after contact.
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