KING COUNTY, WASHINGTON - Local public health officials have learned of a confirmed case of measles in a female in her 20s who travelled from the Netherlands and had a stopover in SeaTac International Airport on March 26 while contagious. People on the passenger’s flights and in the airport area should be alert for symptoms and contact their health care provider if they become ill since measles, also known as rubeola, is a potentially severe disease.

Three King County residents seated near the ill traveler during an Amsterdam to Seattle flight on March 26 are being contacted by Public Health to assess their risk for measles. Other individuals who should be alert for symptoms of measles and call their physician immediately if they become ill include:

• those who were aboard Northwest Flight 33 (Amsterdam to Seattle) on March 26
• those present in the S concourse, the C concourse (especially gate 2J) or the S concourse train on March 26 between 3:25 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.

The Seattle Quarantine Station of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention learned that on March 26 the unvaccinated passenger flew from Amsterdam to Seattle on Northwest Airlines Flight 33, arriving in Seattle around 3:25 p.m. The passenger then flew from Seattle to Portland on Horizon Airlines Flight 2243 departing from Seattle at 5 p.m.

On March 28 the passenger developed a rash, left Portland for Amsterdam on March 29 aboard Northwest Airlines Flight 92, and in the Netherlands had blood tests that confirmed the diagnosis of measles on April 4, 2008.

Measles is a highly infectious and usually severe illness that causes fever, rash, cough, and red, watery eyes. The rash begins on the face and spreads to the rest of the body. Fever (often greater than 101° F), cough and other symptoms begin two to four days before the rash appears.

Measles symptoms begin seven to 21 days after the exposure to measles occurred. Measles is contagious from approximately four days before the rash appears through four days after the rash appears. People can spread measles before they have the characteristic measles rash.

Measles spreads easily among susceptible persons and can result in serious infections complicated by pneumonia, encephalitis, seizures, and death. Most persons born before 1957 had the disease in childhood, and younger persons are routinely vaccinated against measles, both of which provide protection against the disease.

Persons with possible measles should wear a mask covering the nose and mouth, avoid public places, minimize contact with others, and stay out of patient waiting rooms.

For more information, a measles fact sheet is available at: www.metrokc.gov/health/prevcont/measles.htm

For immunizations, contact your provider or visit a Public Health – Seattle & King County immunization clinic: www.metrokc.gov/health/immunization/clinics.htm

Providing effective and innovative health and disease prevention services for over 1.8 million residents and visitors of King County, Public Health – Seattle & King County works for safer and healthier communities for everyone, every day.

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