Some Southwest Airlines passengers may have been exposed to measles

A Southwest Airlines passenger who took four flights in two days and who was later diagnosed with measles may have spread the viral infection to other people.

The airline is working with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to warn passengers of the four Texas flights at the end of August that they may have been exposed to measles. Flights include two flights on Tuesday, August 21 (Flight 5 from Dallas Love Field to Houston Hobby and Flight 9 from Houston Hobby to Harlingen, Texas) and two Wednesday, August 22 (Flight 665 from Harlingen to Houston and Flight 44 from Houston Hobby to Dallas Love Field), according to USA today.

"Our safety and security groups collaborated with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to help the agency reach customers who traveled on four intra-Texas flights last week. a statement, according to the The Fort Worth star telegram. "We shared situational awareness and protocols with our employees who were also on board these aircraft."

The airline does not disclose the traveler's identity with measles, a spokesman for Southwest Airlines added.

According to NBC 5 in Dallas, which announced the news, flight passengers received a letter from the Dallas County Health and Social Services Department asking them to detect potential symptoms until September 11th. weeks.

The first symptoms of measles usually occur 7 to 14 days after infection and include a high fever, a runny nose, a cough and red eyes. As the disease progresses, an infected person begins to have small spots in the mouth, then rashes all over the body, accompanied by a fever that can exceed 104 degrees.

The measles virus is particularly dangerous for unvaccinated children, pregnant women and those with weakened immune systems. The Mercury News reported. The newspaper also noted that, according to the World Health Organization, measles is one of the leading causes of death in children under 5 years of age.

Disease Control Centers reported last month that 107 cases of measles were recorded between 1 January and 14 July in 21 US states and Washington DC The majority of people who contracted the disease have not been vaccinated.

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Measles outbreaks in the United States usually begin after a traveler returns to areas of the world where the disease is still prevalent, such as Europe, Asia, the Pacific, and Africa, and spreads throughout the world. unvaccinated areas.

In March, officials from the state of Michigan and New Jersey were required to issue warnings to travelers who might have come into contact with people who brought measles back after traveling.

Axios said that with measles cases in Europe reaching a record high of over 40,000 in the first six months of 2018, it is possible that more cases of measles will be imported from there in the United States.

Axois also noted that Western states with strong anti-vaccine movements, including Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Texas, are particularly susceptible to outbreaks due to low immunization coverage – "in some cases, well below 90 to 95 for 100 adequate collective immunity for measles.