The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare warns travelers of a potential measles exposure at the Boise Airport in late March.
BOISE, Idaho — Officials with the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare (IDHW) are warning travelers of a possible measles exposure at the Boise Airport.
Anyone traveling through the airport or working there on Sunday, March 29, between the hours of 1:30 a.m. and 7:40 a.m., should monitor for symptoms, IDHW announced Thursday.
Health officials are directly notifying Idahoans who shared flights with the person affected, and said they have already notified Boise Airport employees.
Early indications of measles symptoms include fever, runny nose, cough, and red, watery eyes, followed by a rash. The virus is highly contagious and spreads through the air when infected individuals cough, sneeze or speak.
Officials said anyone not vaccinated against measles can get the virus up to two hours after someone else with measles was in the area.
According to IDHW, multiple countries and parts of the United States are experiencing measles outbreaks. Anyone planning to travel should speak with their doctor or another healthcare provider about how to protect themselves. For children, the MMR vaccine is considered highly effective. Their first dose should be issued between the age of a year and a year and a half. The second dose should be issued between the age of 4 and 6 years old.
While infants are not recommended to receive the vaccine normally, any infant between the age of 6 and 11 months should get the vaccine if they are traveling internationally, according to IDHW. Families should speak to their baby’s doctor at least two weeks before travel.
More information about measles is available through the Center for Disease Prevention and Control.