A person infectious with measles traveled through Denver International Airport earlier this month, a reminder to holiday travelers to be aware of the risk of infection as they journey to and fro.
The traveler, who lives out of state, landed at DIA at 7:24 p.m. on Dec. 12 at gate B45. The traveler departed from gate B84 at 9:41 p.m. the same night, state and local health officials say.
Authorities did not identify where those flights originated or where they were headed and said passengers who shared a flight with the infected person will be notified directly. But other travelers or workers who were at the airport from when the traveler arrived until about midnight that night should monitor themselves for symptoms of measles and call ahead before seeking medical attention if they believe they have been infected.
People exposed could come down with symptoms up until Jan. 2. However, authorities said the infected traveler was fully vaccinated against measles and had mild symptoms, meaning the risk of the traveler spreading the disease to others is lower.
Colorado has seen 36 cases of measles so far this year, the second most in a year since cases started being tracked in 1993, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment has said. But other states have been hit far harder.
There are currently two large outbreaks in the United States, one in South Carolina and another along the Utah-Arizona border. Both outbreaks have seen well over 100 cases reported.
Following the widespread introduction of vaccines, measles was declared eliminated from the United States in 2000. But the country will likely lose that status early next year. Facing even higher infection numbers, Canada lost its elimination status last month.