The measles outbreak connected to an international flight at Denver International Airport (DIA) has raised significant public health concerns. On May 13, 2025, an unvaccinated traveler arrived at DIA and potentially exposed thousands of individuals to the highly contagious virus . This individual's movements included spending a night at the Quality Inn and Suites before boarding a domestic flight the following day. Such episodes underscore the vulnerability of unvaccinated populations in transit environments where close contact is inevitable.
Two more states reported their first cases this week, Iowa and Nebraska, putting the number of affected jurisdictions at 33. The number of outbreaks remained at 14, and 90% of cases are linked to outbreaks.
The overwhelming majority of patients (96%) are unvaccinated or had unknown vaccination status, and affected patients are roughly evenly split between kids younger than 5 years old, school-age children, and adults ages 20 and older.
In a related development, the CDC this week updated its measles travel advisory, noting that measles cases are rising in many countries and that all international travelers should be fully vaccinated with the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine, including an early dose for infants ages 6 to 11 months old.
The passenger was in the international terminal before staying overnight at the nearby Quality Inn and Suites Denver International Airport, officials said.
The infectious person then returned to the airport on May 14 and boarded a domestic flight.
The child, who described as a “toddler,” was confirmed to have the disease late last week after recently traveling with relatives to “multiple international locations with increased measles cases,” according to officials.
This outbreak is part of an ongoing rise in reports of measles exposures in the U.S. In March, there was exposure on an Amtrak train to Washington, D.C. In May, someone attended a Shakira concert in New Jersey while infectious with measles.
“Measles isn't just a little rash,” the CDC says. It also comes with a high fever, cough, runny nose and may lead to pneumonia and encephalitis (swelling of the brain), which can cause hearing loss and cognitive disabilities.
This outbreak serves as a stark reminder of the importance of vaccination and public health preparedness. With rising vaccine hesitancy contributing to outbreaks across the United States, this incident highlights a critical need for effective communication strategies aimed at encouraging immunization among vulnerable populations . As global travel continues to increase post-pandemic, ensuring widespread vaccination will be essential in preventing similar outbreaks in the future.
Read more
Canadian wildfires trigger mass evacuations Seven dead after bridges collapse in two Russian regions near Ukraine
Sara H
Also on site :
- Hedge Funds' Global Growth: From Robo-Taxis to Pharmaceuticals
- Minnesota woman fights back against aggressive form of dementia
- Man left horrified after coming home to ‘plague-style swarm’ of termites