Copyright Baton Rouge Advocate
The Louisiana Department of Health on Monday reported the state's third measles case of the year and warned that those who were at the New Orleans airport the night before may have been exposed. Once nearly eradicated and preventable by vaccines, the highly contagious virus has raised public health alarms this year as outbreaks nationwide reached more than 1,600 cases as of Nov. 4. Louisiana's latest case involves an adult who lives in Region 9, which includes Livingston, St. Helena, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa and Washington parishes, according to the Department of Health. The patient, whose vaccination status is unknown, was not hospitalized and will remain in isolation until no longer infectious, officials said. The Department of Health said the individual was exposed to measles while traveling internationally and was infectious while at the Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport on Sunday evening. Those who were in Concourse B and beyond the security checkpoint from 5 to 8:30 p.m. may have been exposed to the virus. Measles can linger in the air for up to two hours and approximately 90% of unvaccinated individuals who are exposed will become infected, according to the Department of Health. Anyone who was on a flight with the patient will be notified directly, officials said. What to do if you were exposed If you think you might have been exposed to measles, the Department of Health suggests the following: Find out if you have been vaccinated for measles or have had measles previously. If you are unsure whether you have been vaccinated, ask your health care provider to find out if you need an MMR vaccine. You can also check your family’s vaccine status at MyIR. To be considered immune, adults need at least one dose of the MMR vaccine given after the age of one. Individuals born before 1957 or who had measles as a child are considered immune. If you are not immune to measles, the MMR vaccine could help reduce your risk of developing measles. Watch for measles symptoms, which typically appear seven to 12 days after exposure, but could appear after 21 days. Symptoms include: Fever of 101 degrees or higher Red, watery eyes Cough Runny nose Red, blotchy rash that starts on the face at the hairline and moves down the body Notify your provider of the possible exposure before heading to an appointment so special arrangements can be made without putting other patients and medical office staff at risk. Louisiana's third case The U.S is having its worst year for measles spread in more than three decades amid nationwide outbreaks that started in undervaccinated communities in Texas. While health officials say vaccinations are the best way to prevent measles, data collected by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show declining vaccination rates among kindergarten students in Louisiana and across the U.S. from 2021 to 2024. Two cases of measles were reported in the greater New Orleans area earlier this year in April, both of which were related to travel. Both of those patients survived, but the cases put local hospitals on high alert for a virus that many health care providers have never seen outside of a textbook.
