KEILAR: A measles scare is adding to already hectic holiday travel, as CNN's Athena Jones reports multiple U.S. airports are now warning travelers that they may have been exposed.</s>ATHENA JONES, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: This holiday week could come with an unwanted and dangerous surprise, measles. Authorities say people infected with the highly contagious virus traveled through at least five airports in recent days and may have exposed others to the disease, just the latest in a string of similar incidents this year, now happening at the busiest time to travel. An unidentified person visited the airport and several over locations around Austin, Texas between December 14th and December 17th, including a restaurant, a grocery store and a Target.</s>DR. MARK ESCOTT, AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH: That individual became ill on December the 14th and developed a rash on December the 17th. On that same day, December 17th, he boarded a flight from Austin to Chicago, United Flight 790, that was a connecting flight to Virginia.</s>JONES: Health officials are working to inform people who may have been exposed.</s>ESCOTT: It's important to remember that measles can be a deadly disease.</s>JONES: In Chicago, health officials are investigating possible measles exposures around the same time at O'Hare Airport and two restaurants. The State of Virginia is investigating possible exposures at the Richmond Airport and a doctor's office. On December 11th, three unvaccinated children with measles visiting from New Zealand likely exposed travelers at Denver and Los Angeles International Airports. The CDC is contacting passengers who flew on the same planes. The measles virus spreads through coughing and sneezing and can live in the air for up to two hours. Symptoms can include a high fever, cough, runny nose, pink eye and, of course, a red, splotchy rash.
Five U.S. Airports Warn Of Potential Measles Exposure.