Passengers who were at Philadelphia International Airport between the evening of Sunday, September 13, and the early morning of Monday, September 14, 2026, have been alerted to a potential measles exposure. A person infected with the viral disease passed through Terminals B and F, as well as areas connecting to Terminals C, D, and E, during this period.
The city's health department confirmed that the individual did not leave the airport and that this case is distinct from a recent measles outbreak at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP). Dr. Palak Raval-Nelson, Philadelphia’s health commissioner, emphasised the importance of being up to date on vaccinations.
Individuals who are not immune, are unsure of their vaccination status, are infants, are pregnant and not immune, or are immunocompromised are advised to contact their healthcare provider promptly. Measles is highly contagious, spreading through the air via coughs, sneezes, or speech, and unvaccinated individuals can contract the virus within two hours of sharing the same space as an infected person.
Early symptoms include fever, runny nose, cough, and red, watery eyes, followed by a rash. Severe cases can lead to pneumonia, brain infection, and death. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has recorded 3,472 measles cases across the US in 2026, an increase of over 1,000 cases compared to last year, with one death reported so far this year.