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THREE passengers caught the world’s most infectious disease at a major airport, leaving travelers on high alert.
Health officials say three cases of measles were detected at Denver International Airport.
An infected person arrived at the airport on May 13 from a Turkish Airlines flight and stayed at a hotel for two nights, possibly exposing hundreds of others.
The Colorado Health Department confirmed two other cases of measles on Turkish Airlines Flight 201.
One person was infected despite being vaccinated, and the other was an unvaccinated child who is currently in the hospital.
“The child was unvaccinated and remains hospitalized. The patient is placed in appropriate isolation so there’s no ongoing exposure risk to other patients and families at the hospital,” said the health department last week.
“This situation underscores the critical importance of vaccination. Staying up to date on vaccinations and being aware of health risks when traveling are important ways to protect yourself and your community,” said Dr. Rachel Herlihy, a state epidemiologist and deputy chief medical officer at the state’s health department.
The department warned anyone who was at the airport, which has about 226,000 passengers a day, on May 13 or 14, should check for any symptoms for 21 days and contact their healthcare provider.
Measles is one of the most infectious diseases in the world, according to the World Health Organization.
“Measles is a highly contagious, serious airborne disease caused by a virus that can lead to severe complications and death,” said the organization.
“In 2023, there were an estimated 107,500 measles deaths globally, mostly among unvaccinated or under-vaccinated children under the age of 5 years.”
What to know about measles
Measles is a highly contagious viral disease that spreads through coughing, sneezing, or close contact with an infected person. The virus can linger in the air for up to two hours.
Symptoms:
- High fever
- Dry cough
- Runny nose
- Red, watery eyes
- Rash (usually starts on the face and spreads downward)
Symptoms usually appear 7 to 14 days after exposure. The rash typically shows up 3 to 5 days after early symptoms begin.
Complications:
Can include pneumonia, brain swelling (encephalitis), miscarriage, premature birth, and even death, especially in young children and pregnant women.
How it spreads:
Measles is one of the most contagious viruses on Earth. Up to 90% of unvaccinated people exposed to it will get sick. If one person has it, up to 9 out of 10 people nearby will become infected if they are not protected.
Cases in the US (2025):
- 1,024 confirmed cases of measles across 14 outbreaks this year
- Cases span 31 states
- Texas has the highest number, with over 700 cases, including two child deaths
- Nearly all infections involve unvaccinated individuals or people with unknown vaccination status
Confirmed measles cases were reported by 31 jurisdictions:
Alaska, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York City, New York State, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, and Washington.
Vaccine info:
The MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine is 97% effective after two doses.
Updated by CDC on May 16, 2025
At the time of writing, Colorado has seven total cases of measles.
Meanwhile, in Texas, a total of 717 people have been infected with the disease as officials update case tallies twice a week.
TRAVEL HUB
Denver International Airport is ranked as one of the busiest airports in the world, according to the Airports Council International.
With more than 82.3 million travelers a year, DIA is the sixth busiest airport in the world and the third busiest in the US behind Atlanta and Dallas-Fort Worth.
“Maintaining our ranking as the third busiest airport in North America further demonstrates our dedication to strengthening our position as a global hub and our airport’s continued, thoughtful growth,” said DIA CEO Phil Washington in a statement.
