An international visitor who traveled through Boston to Amsterdam using public transportation on Saturday, June 22 while infectious with measles has prompted the Massachusetts Department of Public Health to issue an alert. Specific locations where people may have been exposed to the disease include 11:40 a.m. on the Dartmouth Coach bus line in Hanover, NH, traveling to Boston, MA and arriving at Logan Airport around 2:40 p.m. Additionally, the individual was at Terminal E on Flight KLM6016 from Boston to Amsterdam departing from Gate E5.
The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services has also identified additional confirmed areas of exposure, including Dartmouth College campus, the Hanover Inn, Hanover Scoops, and Lou’s Restaurant and Bakery in Hanover. Measles is a highly contagious airborne disease that is more easily spread than most other illnesses. Symptoms include a high fever, cough, runny nose, and watery eyes before a body rash develops. Anyone exhibiting these symptoms should contact their healthcare provider before visiting a medical facility.
Public Health Commissioner Robbie Goldstein, MD, PhD emphasized the importance of vaccination as the best way to protect against measles. Unvaccinated individuals are at a higher risk of infection, especially given the increase in cases and outbreaks worldwide. The Department of Public Health advises anyone who may have been exposed to measles to monitor themselves for symptoms and seek medical attention if necessary.
