The New Jersey Department of Health has issued a public alert after a passenger with measles spent more than three hours last week at Newark Liberty International Airport.
Anyone who was in Terminal B on Oct. 19 between 2:15 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. may have been exposed, according to the bulletin.
The infected person is not a New Jersey resident, but visited New Jersey while infected, health officials said.
While there has not been a reported measles outbreak in New Jersey this year — despite numerous outbreaks across the U.S. due to declining vaccination rates — similar alerts have been issued about potential exposure at the airport at least three other times since January.
The state has reported 10 measles cases so far this year, up from seven in 2024, according to the Department of Health. Three deaths have been reported in the U.S.
Measles can cause high fever, cough, runny nose, watery eyes and a rash that begins on the face before spreading, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control. It can also cause serious complications, such as pneumonia and swelling of the brain.
Anyone experiencing symptoms who was at the airport is advised to contact a health care provider before seeking in-person diagnosis and treatment. Health officials warn that symptoms may not appear for two or more weeks, and that potentially exposed individuals could develop symptoms as late as Nov. 9.
