Measles exposure reported at Boston Logan Airport

Grace Zokovitch, Boston Herald on Apr 22, 2026

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BOSTON — A person with measles traveled through Boston Logan Airport on April 13, the Boston Public Health Commission reported, warning exposed unvaccinated individuals to isolate and contact healthcare providers immediately.

“This case of measles underscores the continued importance of obtaining the MMR vaccine,” said Bisola Ojikutu, Boston’s Commissioner of Public Health. “The MMR vaccine is highly effective at preventing measles infection and also protects against mumps and rubella. This vaccine is the best tool we have to protect ourselves and our communities from serious illness.”

The individual with measles traveled through Logan Airport’s Terminal C on Tuesday, April 14 shortly after midnight, the BPHC stated. The person came to Boston on JetBlue Airways flight 470 from Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, flying between just before 9 p.m. and midnight.

Anyone who traveled through Terminal C between 12 a.m. and 2:30 a.m. may be at risk of exposure, BPHC said. The infected person left the airport in a private car and traveled out of state, the commission added, leaving no other known exposure points in Boston as of this week.

The commission said they are working with the Department of Public Health to notify any individuals who may have been exposed.

Anyone who may have been exposed and has not received a measles vaccine should contact a healthcare provider immediately. Those individuals should also avoid public places like school, work and stores and monitor for any symptoms for the next 21 days through May 5.

Measles is a “highly contagious virus that begins with flu-like symptoms, including cough, high fever, runny nose, and red, watery eyes, followed by a red, blotchy rash that spreads from the face to the rest of the body,” BPHC stated.

The virus can spread when an infected person breathes, coughs, or sneezes, or through contact with surfaces or items with the virus within 2 hours. Infection may appear seven to 21 days after contact, the commission said.

The number of confirmed cases of measles in Massachusetts residents in 2026 remains two, the commission said.

The commission urged residents to get vaccinated, noting the vaccine is up to 97% effective in preventing measles and protecting against severe disease. In Suffolk County, 94% of children have been fully vaccinated against measles, DPH data shows.

In 2025, three people died in measles outbreaks in the U.S., with 2,288 total cases in the year, according to the CDC. No measles deaths have been reported in 2026 of the 1,748 total cases reported in the U.S.

“Children should receive the vaccine at 12-15 months of age and again before kindergarten to ensure strong immunity,” Ojikutu said. “It is never too late for children or adults to get the measles vaccine and for the vaccine to be effective, even if they are past the age recommended by doctors. As measles cases continue to surge across our country, we should all ensure that we are vaccinated to prevent spread and serious illness.”

More information can be found at boston.gov/measles, and the commission encouraged healthcare providers who suspect measles to call their local health department or Massachusetts DPH at 617-983-6800 “immediately for recommendations and testing guidance.”

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