City officials warn of Measles exposure in Boston

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Office of Communications
(617) 534-3127
communications@bphc.org

CITY OFFICIALS WARN OF MEASLES EXPOSURE IN BOSTON Exposure Occurred on February 26 on Buses Travelling Through South Station BOSTON – [March 1, 2019] – The Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC) today alerted the public of a measles exposure. On February 26, 2019, an individual with confirmed measles traveled from New York City to Boston and subsequently to New Hampshire.

Persons who were at any of the following locations may have been exposed:
4:00 PM – 8:30 PM Greyhound Bus (#2520) from New York City to Boston
8:30 PM – 12:00 AM South Station Bus Terminal, Boston
10:00 PM – 11:30 PM Boston Express Bus (#5178) from Boston Logan Airport to Manchester, New Hampshire (with stops in Tyngsboro, MA and Nashua, NH)

Persons who were at these locations could become ill between March 3 and March 19, 2019 (21 days following potential exposure).

“Measles is a serious disease, particularly in children who have not been vaccinated. If you don’t know your immunity status and think you have been exposed, contact your healthcare provider immediately,” said Jen Leaf Jeager, M.D., M.P.H., Director of the Infectious Disease Bureau at BPHC.

Measles is a highly contagious virus that is spread through the air, usually through coughing and sneezing. The virus may remain in the environment for up to two hours after the infectious person has left the area. Exposure can occur even without direct contact with an infectious person.

Early symptoms include a high fever, runny nose, cough, and red eyes. A skin rash usually occurs three to five days later and begins as flat, red spots on the face. If experiencing these symptoms, people are advised to contact their health care provider by phone immediately for further instructions. Those who have had measles in the past or have received two doses of measles containing vaccine are unlikely to become ill even if exposed. When immunity status is uncertain, monitoring for symptoms and contacting a healthcare provider if any arise is recommended.

BPHC is coordinating with the Massachusetts Department of Public Health and the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services. For additional information, please contact BPHC at 617-534-5611, MDPH at 617-983-6800 or NHDHHS at 603-271-4496.

Fact sheets on measles is available online in English, Arabic, Chinese, Haitian Creole, Portuguese, Spanish and Vietnamese. ### About the Boston Public Health Commission

The Boston Public Health Commission, one of the country’s oldest health departments, is an independent public agency providing a wide range of health services and programs. It is governed by a seven-member board of health appointed by the Mayor of Boston.

Public service and access to quality health care are the cornerstones of our mission – to protect, preserve, and promote the health and well-being of all Boston residents, particularly those who are most vulnerable. The Commission’s more than 40 programs are grouped into six bureaus: Child, Adolescent & Family Health; Community Health Initiatives; Homeless Services; Infectious Disease; Recovery Services; and Emergency Medical Services.