Passenger with contagious measles passed Sunday through Armstrong New Orleans airport, LDH says

NEW ORLEANS (WVUE) – The Louisiana Department of Health has confirmed one case of measles in an adult resident in Region 9, which includes Livingston, St. Helena, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa and Washington parishes. The patient was exposed during international travel.

The individual was not hospitalized and will remain in isolation until no longer infectious. The vaccination status of the person is unknown.

LDH said no further information will be released to protect patient confidentiality.

The public exposure occurred at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport, Concourse B on Sunday (Nov. 9) from approximately 5-8:30 p.m.

The LDH notes measles can remain in the air for up to two hours after an infectious person leaves. Anyone who was on the same flight as the confirmed case will be notified by their local health department.

This is the third measles case confirmed in Louisiana in 2025. The first two cases were travel-associated in adult residents of Region 1, which includes Jefferson, Orleans, Plaquemines and St. Bernard parishes.

LDH announced those cases in April and concluded the investigation May 9.

One case involved international travel. Neither individual was hospitalized. One patient was unvaccinated and the vaccination status of the second is unknown.

Measles is highly contagious.

LDH says about 90% of unvaccinated individuals exposed to measles will become infected. The virus can be especially dangerous for babies and young children, pregnant women and people with compromised immune systems.

The agency says the best way to prevent illness is to be immunized. Adults need at least one dose of the MMR vaccine given after age 1 to be considered immune. Individuals born before 1957 or who had measles as a child are considered immune.

LDH advises those who may have been at the airport during the exposure window to check their vaccination status, consult a healthcare provider as needed and watch for symptoms.

Measles symptoms usually appear 7-12 days after exposure but can take up to 21 days. They include fever of 101 degrees or higher, red watery eyes, cough, runny nose and a red blotchy rash that begins at the hairline and moves down the body. The rash may last five to six days.

LDH asks anyone who seeks in-person medical care after potential exposure to notify the provider ahead of time so precautions can be taken.

More information for providers and the public is available at LDH | Measles.

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