Measles Reported on Four Southwest Airlines Flights in Texas

Southwest Airlines is reporting passengers on 4 flights between Dallas, Houston and Harlingen may have been exposed to the measles on August 21 and 22, 2018.

These 4 flights include:

• Flight No. 5, between Dallas and Houston on Aug. 21
• Flight No. 9, between Houston and Harlingen on Aug. 21
• Flight No. 665, between Harlingen and Houston on Aug. 22
• Flight No. 44, between Houston and Dallas on Aug. 22

The passenger, contagious at the time of travel, connected on the Southwest flights at Hobby Airport, in Houston, Texas. The traveler did not leave the airport or visit any airport restaurants or venues and only stayed in a waiting area for about an hour each day.

Any traveler who was on these flights and who develops measles symptoms should contact their medical provider asap.

The Houston Health Department said passengers exposed to the patient may develop symptoms as late as Sept. 12, 2018.

“People at the airport are at a much lower risk of exposure than passengers on the flights with the patient,” said Dr. David Persse, Houston Health Department Local Health Authority.

“That’s why our focus is on directly contacting the passengers to notify them of the risk, inquire about their vaccination status, and make sure they monitor for symptoms and seek medical attention if necessary,” said Dr. Persse in a press release.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), most measles cases in the USA are related to international travel.

This means most measles cases are brought back to the USA by unvaccinated people who get infected during a trip to a measles endemic country.

Upon returning home, an infected person spreads measles to others.

Measles outbreaks have been reported in several countries:

• Brazil
• Venezuela
• Ukraine

To alert international travelers, the CDC has issued measles Watch Level 1, Practice Usual Precautions for various countries.

International travelers can easily request a vaccination appointment with a pharmacy at Vax-Before-Travel.

Two doses of the MMR vaccine are 97 percent effective against measles, says the CDC.

The CDC Vaccine Price List provides private sector vaccine prices for general information.

And, MMR vaccine discounts can be found here.

Measles vaccines, like any medicine, can have side effects. You are encouraged to report negative side effects of vaccines to the FDA or CDC.