Officials warn about possible measles exposures in Boston and Westborough

Health

A visitor with measles flew into Logan Airport in Boston on Dec. 11 and stayed overnight at a hotel in Westborough, officials said.

A person with a confirmed measles diagnosis visited Massachusetts earlier this month, and officials are now warning the public about the potential spread of the disease. 

The visitor arrived at Logan Airport on Dec. 11 at 2:39 p.m. They flew on American Airlines flight 2384 from Dallas-Fort Worth. They stayed overnight at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel in Westborough. The person flew out of Logan at 9:19 p.m. on Dec. 12, boarding JetBlue flight 117 to Las Vegas, according to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. 

Officials say that exposures to the infected person may have occurred at the following locations and times: 

• Logan Airport Terminal B, between 2:30 and 4:45 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 11.
• DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Boston-Westborough, in Westborough, between 3:30 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 11 and 9 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 12.
• Logan Airport Terminal C, between 6 and 11:30 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 12. 

Measles is an extremely contagious disease that spreads through the air when an infected person sneezes, coughs, or talks. It can linger in the air for up to two hours. The virus can be spread through the air or things like tissues and cups. 

Measles normally lasts a week or two. Early symptoms are similar to those seen in some cases of the cold or the flu: a cough, high fever, runny nose, and red, watery eyes. A red, blotchy rash appears on the face a few days after infection, and can later spread to the rest of the person’s body. 

Symptoms normally appear between 10 and 14 days after a person is exposed. The disease can be spread beginning four days before the rash appears and for four days afterwards. 

Measles is most dangerous for children under the age of five, adults over 20, pregnant women, and people with weakened immune systems. It can lead to diarrhea, ear infections, pneumonia and other dangerous effects. 

The risk to most people in Massachusetts is low, officials say, because the state has one of the highest vaccination rates in the nation. 

“Measles is a highly contagious, airborne disease, which has increased significantly in the United States because of the unfortunate decrease in vaccination rates. It is also a preventable disease,” said Public Health Commissioner Robbie Goldstein in a statement. 

With federal officials in the Trump administration casting doubt on the safety of vaccines, state officials have been outspoken in their support for vaccines. After the CDC updated its website last month to say that the statement “vaccines do not cause autism” is not “evidence-based,” Gov. Maura Healey issued a lengthy statement calling those actions “disturbing and sad.”

In responding to the recent measles news, Goldstein echoed Healey’s sentiment that vaccines are safe and effective. 

“This current situation serves as an important reminder of the critical role vaccination plays in protecting our communities. While Massachusetts has not had a measles case this year, 2025 saw the highest number of nationwide cases in more than a decade – nearly 2,000 in 44 jurisdictions, and sadly, three deaths. Fifteen years ago, measles had been considered eliminated in the United States, but that tremendous progress is at risk. Vaccines are one of the most important public health interventions ever – they are safe, effective, and lifesaving,” he said. 

In March, Vermont officials warned the public about a confirmed measles case in a child. The same month, public health officials in Washington, D.C. said that a man who tested positive for measles boarded an Amtrak train at South Station in Boston and took it to the nation’s capital.

Officials are urging anyone who has not been vaccinated or does not know their measles immunization status to contact their healthcare providers and get vaccinated if necessary. A measles vaccine administered within 72 hours of exposure may prevent the disease from taking hold, according to the DPH. 

“This case is a reminder that everyone should be vaccinated against measles to protect themselves and others from this highly infectious disease. With multiple measles outbreaks across the country and increased travel around the holidays, now is an important time to ensure that you and your family are protected. Two doses of MMR vaccine are 97% effective at preventing measles and provides protection against mumps and rubella infection,” Boston Public Health Commissioner Bisola Ojikutu said in a statement.