A man traveling through Houston's Hobby Airport has been identified as the latest case of measles in Southeast Texas.
The traveler from Mexico, who told officials he has not had the measles vaccine, is said to have been infectious while walking through Hobby terminals last Sunday, March 30th, between 4 pm and 8 pm.
He arrived in Houston on a flight from Mexico and walked through customs, baggage claim, the Western Concourse and the Central Concourse, exposing those near him to possible infection, according to the Houston Health Department.
Anyone concerned about having been exposed in this case should see a doctor at their earliest convenience, but there's no need to visit an emergency room unless there are symptoms like cough, runny nose, fever, red eyes or a rash. If you do decide to visit an emergency room, officials urge you to call the ER before you leave so they can prepare for your arrival by arranging things so only a minimum of hospital visitors and personnel may be exposed should it turn out you do have measles upon arrival.
This situation has no connection to other measles cases in the Houston area, or anywhere else in the state, including the ongoing outbreak in West Texas, where the number of people diagnosed with measles is approaching 500.
Harris County Public Health said last week that there is one confirmed case of measles, which is considered highly contagious and is spread through coughing and sneezing.
Researchers have said that, for people who have not been vaccinated, the likelihood of getting measles after an exposure is all but certain.
Measles is considered dangerous precisely because it is so easily transmitted from one person to another, and could be life-threatening to very young children among some others.