Possible measles exposure reported at Philadelphia International Airport

PHILADELPHIA (WPHL) — The Philadelphia Department of Public Health is warning of a potential measles exposure at Philadelphia International Airport.

Health officials say a person infected with measles traveled through Terminal E on Feb. 12 between 1:35 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. The traveler was passing through Philadelphia at the time.

Anyone who was in Terminal E during that time may have been exposed, officials said. The health department is urging those individuals to check their vaccination status and monitor for symptoms, especially if they are not fully vaccinated against measles.

Early symptoms can include a cough, runny nose, and a high fever. A rash typically develops several days later. Measles is highly contagious and can spread through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes.

Officials say people who believe they were exposed should contact their healthcare provider before seeking treatment, so medical staff can take steps to prevent further spread.

An outbreak in South Carolina with cases in the hundreds has surpassed the recorded case count in Texas’ 2025 outbreak, and there is also one on the Utah-Arizona border. Multiple other states have had confirmed cases this year. The outbreaks have mostly impacted children and have come as infectious disease experts warn that rising public distrust of vaccines generally may be contributing to the spread of a disease once declared eradicated by public health officials.