New York: The New Jersey health department has issued a public advisory just as highly contagious viral disease, measles, has given rise to health concern in the US.
The advisory comes after a traveler, a New Jersey resident with measles visited Newark Liberty International Airport on October 19, according to NDTV.
The passenger passed through Terminal B between 2:15 pm and 5:30 pm local time possibly exposing others to the virus.
Authorities have urged people who were at the airport during the specific period to monitor for symptoms.
The residents were asked to be up-to-date on the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine.
This incident comes as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed 1,648 confirmed cases of measles in 42 states this year, steep spike in cases from previous years.
Measles that causes a total-body rash is spread, according to Mayo Clinic, through air from respiratory droplets of the infected person.
The health department warned public that measles could lead to serious health complications like pneumonia and encephalitis alongside causing ‘miscarriage in pregnant people, premature birth, or a low-birth-weight baby’.
Its symptoms including high fever, cough, runny nose, red and watery eyes, and full-body rash usually develop 10-14 days after exposure.
‘Most people recover from measles in about 10 days. It usually doesn't cause long-term medical issues. But measles can be serious and even deadly. This is especially true for children younger than age 5 and people with severely weakened immune systems,’ Mayo Clinic reportedly said.