Measles Confirmed at Las Vegas Airport

The Southern Nevada Health District (SNHD) said in a news release that a passenger who was going through Harry Reid International Airport on Monday tested positive for measles and that there may have been more exposures.

Before boarding an 8 a.m. flight, the unnamed passenger spent some time in Terminal 3 at the E Gates.  The news release states that the tourist used the airport to connect flights and did not visit any other points of interest in Las Vegas.

The extremely contagious virus that causes measles can remain in the air for up to two hours after an infected individual has left the area.  It is recommended that everybody who was at the same terminal at the same time check their immunization record and get in touch with their doctor if they have any gaps in their immunizations.

This is Nevada's first documented measles exposure since April 2024, when a tourist was also implicated.  (There were no reports of local transmission.)  According to the SNHD, the most recent confirmed case involving a Nevada resident occurred in 2018.

The CDC reported 1,596 confirmed cases of measles in 42 US states as of October 14.

An estimated 107,500 people died from measles globally in 2023, primarily from unvaccinated children under the age of five.  Measles has killed three people in 2025 so far this year, including one adult in New Mexico and two school-age children in Texas, for a fatality rate of 0.19% (1.9 deaths per 1,000 cases).  These were the US's first measles-related fatalities in more than ten years.

Symptoms of Measles

The following symptoms usually show up 7–21 days after exposure:

• Fever
• Cough
• Runny nose
• Red eyes
• Rash (usually 1–4 days after initial symptoms)
• Measles can spread from four days before the rash appears until four days after

Who’s Most at Risk?

Complications may affect even healthy individuals, but higher risk groups include:

• Children under 5
• Adults over 20
• Pregnant women
• People with weakened immune systems

Vaccine Facts

• The MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine is safe and highly effective
• Two doses provide about 97% protection against measles
• Staying current with vaccinations is the most effective way to prevent outbreaks and protect public health

To prevent infecting others, anyone exhibiting measles-like symptoms should provide a call in advance of attending a medical facility.