Health officials are warning travelers of a potential measles exposure at Newark Liberty International Airport after a passenger infected with the highly contagious virus passed through the airport on December 19, one of the busiest travel days of the year.
According to a bulletin released by the New Jersey Department of Health on Friday, the infected passenger arrived at Terminal B at approximately 7 a.m. and departed from Terminal C around 7 p.m. It remains unclear whether the individual spent the full 12 hours inside the airport.
Terminal B serves a number of international flights along with select domestic carriers, while Terminal C functions as United Airlines’ primary hub. State health officials said the individual was not a New Jersey resident.
This marks at least the fourth reported instance this year in which a traveler with measles passed through Newark Liberty International Airport. The most recent prior case occurred in October. Health officials noted that none of the previous incidents resulted in a local outbreak.
As of Friday, no additional cases linked to the December 19 exposure had been reported. However, officials cautioned that symptoms can develop up to January 2.
December 19 is traditionally one of the heaviest travel days of the year, with more than 51,000 flights scheduled nationwide, increasing the potential for exposure among travelers passing through major transportation hubs such as Newark Liberty International Airport.