A traveler passing through Harry Reid International Airport on Monday has tested positive for measles, according to a news release from the Southern Nevada Health District (SNHD), which warned that others may have been exposed.
The traveler, whose identity was not disclosed, spent time in Terminal 3 at the E Gates before boarding an 8 a.m. flight. According to the news release, the traveler did not visit any other Las Vegas locations other than the airport, meaning that they used the airport to connect flights.
Measles is a highly contagious viral illness that can linger in the air for up to two hours after an infected person leaves the vicinity. People who were in the same terminal at the same time are advised to review their immunization status and contact their health care provider if they are not fully vaccinated.
This marks the first known measles exposure in Nevada since April 2024, which also involved a visitor. (No local transmission was reported.) The last confirmed case involving a Nevada resident was in 2018, according to the SNHD.
As of October 14, the CDC had reported 1,596 confirmed measles cases across 42 US states.
In 2023, measles caused caused an estimated 107,500 deaths worldwide, mostly among unvaccinated children under age 5. Three people died in 2025 from measles so far this year — two school-aged children in Texas and one adult in New Mexico, making the fatality rate 0.19% (1.9 deaths per 1,000 cases). These were the first measles-related deaths in the US in over a decade.
Measles Symptoms
Symptoms typically appear 7 to 21 days after exposure and include:
- 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
Anyone experiencing symptoms consistent with measles should call ahead before visiting a health care facility to avoid exposing others.
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