For the second time in less than three months, New Jersey Department of Health officials are warning of possible measles exposure at Newark Liberty International Airport.
The infected passenger traveled from Aruba to Newark before departing for California on March 4.
The man was traveling into and out of Terminal C but may have visited other parts of the airport. Anyone who was at the airport between March 4 at 9 p.m. and March 5 at 9:30 a.m. may have been exposed, officials warned, adding that symptoms such as rash, high fever, cough, runny nose and red, watery eyes could develop as late as March 26.
Measles-which is spread through the air by coughing, sneezing or coming into contact with the mucus or saliva of someone who is infected-can also cause swelling in the brain and pneumonia in some cases.
If you suspect you may have been exposed, you're encouraged to call a health care provider before going to a doctor's office or emergency department.
State epidemiologist, Dr. Christina Tan encouraged people to get vaccinated to protect not only themselves but others as well. "Two doses of measles vaccine are about 97 percent effective in preventing measles," Tan said in a statement, "so I urge all residents across the state to get vaccinated to protect their health."
"Anyone who has not been vaccinated or has not had measles is at risk if they are exposed," she added. "Getting vaccinated not only protects you, but it also protects others around you who are too young to get the vaccine or can't receive it for medical reasons."
In December, health officials announced that an international traveler who arrived at Newark Liberty from Brussels on Christmas Eve was diagnosed with measles.
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