A traveler infected with measles flew into Miami. What are the next steps?
Miami has detected another case of measles, one of the most contagious diseases in the world, as the country nears record levels of infection.
Health officials have confirmed that a person infected with measles arrived in Miami earlier in June from Boston. The travelers flew into Miami International Airport on JetBlue flight 639, according to the Boston Public Health Commission.
The flight, which departed from Boston Logan International Airport at 9:12 p.m. June 8, arrived in Miami at 1:14 a.m. June 9, flight tracking website data shows. Boston health officials said they're working with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to identify and notify passengers who may have been exposed.
Measles is a highly contagious disease that can spread through coughing, sneezing and by touching infected surfaces. It produces a rash over the skin and flu-like symptoms. While most people can recover at home, the disease can lead to serious and sometimes deadly complications, including pneumonia and brain swelling.
The disease was eliminated from the U.S. in 2000 following an effective vaccination program, with the country seeing sporadic travel-related cases. It's rare for people who are vaccinated against the disease to get sick.
But measles has made a comeback as child vaccination rates continue to decline in the country and the disease is circulating more globally, with the U.S. this year recording its first measles deaths in more than a decade.
'This case of measles highlights the importance of obtaining the MMR vaccine to protect ourselves and our community. The MMR vaccine is highly effective at preventing measles infection and also protects against mumps and rubella,' Dr. Bisola Ojikutu, Commissioner of Public Health for the City of Boston, said in a statement.
So far, the country has recorded 1,197 cases of measles this year, just shy of the 2019 record of 1,274, with nearly all of the cases involving people who are unvaccinated, according to CDC data. The U.S. has recorded three measles deaths in 2025.
In this latest confirmed measles case, the person visited several places in Boston, including a hotel and a museum, while infectious from June 7 through June 8 before getting on a flight to Miami, according to the measles alert. The notice doesn't state whether the person was vaccinated or unvaccinated, where the person was infected, or if the individual lives in Florida or elsewhere.
The Miami Herald has contacted the Florida Department of Health and the Boston Public Health Commission to learn more about the infected person's status, and whether they traveled anywhere else in South Florida. The Miami Herald has also contacted Miami International Airport and JetBlue to see what precautions the airport and airline have taken following the confirmed case.
Measles can be transmitted four days before the start of symptoms, according to the Florida health department. Symptoms can appear 7 to 14 days after contact with the virus, and are at first similar to a normal cold and can include cough, runny nose, red and watery eyes and a high fever up to 105 degrees. The rash typically appears three five days after the first symptoms.
How many measles cases has Florida recorded?
So far, Florida has recorded at least three confirmed measles cases this year, according to preliminary data from the state's infectious disease surveillance system, which goes up to June 7 and is the most available data, as of Monday, June 16. The most recently reported case, recorded in June, involved a person between the ages of 25 and 29 who lives in Leon County, part of the state's Panhandle. The person was infected in the U.S., but not in Florida, the data shows.
The report's preliminary data is based on when the case was reported to the state, with cases assigned based on the county where the person lives, regardless of where the person got sick, hospitalized, diagnosed or exposed.
The Miami Herald hasn't been able to confirm if the June Leon County measles case is different from the Boston to Miami traveler case.
Florida's other two confirmed measles cases this year were recorded in South Florida. One involved a Miami-Dade teen, the other was a child under 5 in Broward County. Last year, the state recorded at least a dozen cases of the rash-causing disease, some of which were linked to an outbreak at a Broward elementary school.
What else to know about measles in the U.S.
The measles, mumps and rubella vaccine, or MMR, which helps protect against measles infection, is considered to be highly effective in reducing infection and is one of the shots required to attend K-12 school in the U.S., though some students may have a religious or medical exemption.
Several health experts the Miami Herald has previously spoken to have attributed the country's growing measles outbreak, in part, to fewer parents vaccinating their kids after COVID as politics, misinformation and personal freedom have muddied vaccination guidance and reduced trust in what the family doctor recommends.
MORE: Why fewer kids are getting vaccinated in Florida — and how that could affect outbreaks
The CDC says the MMR vaccination rate among kindergartners in the U.S. ' is now below the 95% coverage target—much lower in some communities — and is decreasing.' Florida, for example, has seen a decline in overall mandatory school vaccinations for measles and other infectious diseases among kindergartners in recent years, as the Herald has previously reported.
The CDC said it has also noticed an increase in 'measles activity' globally in recent years, 'meaning more chances of an unvaccinated person infected with measles abroad returning to the United States.'
Because measles is highly contagious, it can 'easily spread in unvaccinated or under-vaccinated communities,' according to the CDC.
The CDC says that the best way to protect against measles is to get the MMR vaccine or the measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella (MMRV) vaccine, which also protects against chickenpox. Talk to your doctor if you have questions about the vaccine or are unsure if you were vaccinated.
People who believe — or were notified — that they were exposed to someone with measles should call their doctor for guidance. Don't show up to the doctor's office unannounced.
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Miami Herald
8 hours ago
- Miami Herald
A traveler infected with measles flew into Miami. What are the next steps?
Miami has detected another case of measles, one of the most contagious diseases in the world, as the country nears record levels of infection. Health officials have confirmed that a person infected with measles arrived in Miami earlier in June from Boston. The travelers flew into Miami International Airport on JetBlue flight 639, according to the Boston Public Health Commission. The flight, which departed from Boston Logan International Airport at 9:12 p.m. June 8, arrived in Miami at 1:14 a.m. June 9, flight tracking website data shows. Boston health officials said they're working with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to identify and notify passengers who may have been exposed. Measles is a highly contagious disease that can spread through coughing, sneezing and by touching infected surfaces. It produces a rash over the skin and flu-like symptoms. While most people can recover at home, the disease can lead to serious and sometimes deadly complications, including pneumonia and brain swelling. The disease was eliminated from the U.S. in 2000 following an effective vaccination program, with the country seeing sporadic travel-related cases. It's rare for people who are vaccinated against the disease to get sick. But measles has made a comeback as child vaccination rates continue to decline in the country and the disease is circulating more globally, with the U.S. this year recording its first measles deaths in more than a decade. 'This case of measles highlights the importance of obtaining the MMR vaccine to protect ourselves and our community. The MMR vaccine is highly effective at preventing measles infection and also protects against mumps and rubella,' Dr. Bisola Ojikutu, Commissioner of Public Health for the City of Boston, said in a statement. So far, the country has recorded 1,197 cases of measles this year, just shy of the 2019 record of 1,274, with nearly all of the cases involving people who are unvaccinated, according to CDC data. The U.S. has recorded three measles deaths in 2025. In this latest confirmed measles case, the person visited several places in Boston, including a hotel and a museum, while infectious from June 7 through June 8 before getting on a flight to Miami, according to the measles alert. The notice doesn't state whether the person was vaccinated or unvaccinated, where the person was infected, or if the individual lives in Florida or elsewhere. The Miami Herald has contacted the Florida Department of Health and the Boston Public Health Commission to learn more about the infected person's status, and whether they traveled anywhere else in South Florida. The Miami Herald has also contacted Miami International Airport and JetBlue to see what precautions the airport and airline have taken following the confirmed case. Measles can be transmitted four days before the start of symptoms, according to the Florida health department. Symptoms can appear 7 to 14 days after contact with the virus, and are at first similar to a normal cold and can include cough, runny nose, red and watery eyes and a high fever up to 105 degrees. The rash typically appears three five days after the first symptoms. How many measles cases has Florida recorded? So far, Florida has recorded at least three confirmed measles cases this year, according to preliminary data from the state's infectious disease surveillance system, which goes up to June 7 and is the most available data, as of Monday, June 16. The most recently reported case, recorded in June, involved a person between the ages of 25 and 29 who lives in Leon County, part of the state's Panhandle. The person was infected in the U.S., but not in Florida, the data shows. The report's preliminary data is based on when the case was reported to the state, with cases assigned based on the county where the person lives, regardless of where the person got sick, hospitalized, diagnosed or exposed. The Miami Herald hasn't been able to confirm if the June Leon County measles case is different from the Boston to Miami traveler case. Florida's other two confirmed measles cases this year were recorded in South Florida. One involved a Miami-Dade teen, the other was a child under 5 in Broward County. Last year, the state recorded at least a dozen cases of the rash-causing disease, some of which were linked to an outbreak at a Broward elementary school. What else to know about measles in the U.S. The measles, mumps and rubella vaccine, or MMR, which helps protect against measles infection, is considered to be highly effective in reducing infection and is one of the shots required to attend K-12 school in the U.S., though some students may have a religious or medical exemption. Several health experts the Miami Herald has previously spoken to have attributed the country's growing measles outbreak, in part, to fewer parents vaccinating their kids after COVID as politics, misinformation and personal freedom have muddied vaccination guidance and reduced trust in what the family doctor recommends. MORE: Why fewer kids are getting vaccinated in Florida — and how that could affect outbreaks The CDC says the MMR vaccination rate among kindergartners in the U.S. ' is now below the 95% coverage target—much lower in some communities — and is decreasing.' Florida, for example, has seen a decline in overall mandatory school vaccinations for measles and other infectious diseases among kindergartners in recent years, as the Herald has previously reported. The CDC said it has also noticed an increase in 'measles activity' globally in recent years, 'meaning more chances of an unvaccinated person infected with measles abroad returning to the United States.' Because measles is highly contagious, it can 'easily spread in unvaccinated or under-vaccinated communities,' according to the CDC. The CDC says that the best way to protect against measles is to get the MMR vaccine or the measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella (MMRV) vaccine, which also protects against chickenpox. Talk to your doctor if you have questions about the vaccine or are unsure if you were vaccinated. People who believe — or were notified — that they were exposed to someone with measles should call their doctor for guidance. Don't show up to the doctor's office unannounced.
The Hill
14 hours ago
- The Hill
RFK Jr.'s vaccine moves raise fears ahead of next school year
Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s decision to fire the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) entire vaccine board even as childhood vaccination rates drop is setting off alarm bells for next school year. Health officials worry about the ramifications of Kennedy's recent decisions and philosophy towards vaccines more generally as schools prepare for their first year with him at the helm of nation's health. Diseases that had been eradicated from the U.S. are returning, and experts warn of the need for schools to be vigilant and prepare for outbreaks among their student body. So far this year, there have been nearly 1,200 cases of measles reported in 34 states, quadruple the total from all of last year. And the CDC says vaccine coverage among kindergarteners for measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) is below the target 95 percent threshold. 'I think schools are going to have to rely on state level and national experts to help guide their policies. This means that the current CDC recommendations for school-based vaccinations are still the most reliable and evidence based,' said Lawrence Gostin, distinguished professor of global health law at Georgetown University. 'If the secretary changes the childhood vaccination schedule, and I think he is all but certain to do that soon, states should hold fast on the current recommendations and consult their own health departments for future guidance,' Gostin added. Kennedy replaced the 17-member Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) with eight new voting members, with some who are known for spreading vaccine misinformation. Robert W. Malone, one of the new members, also promoted the use of hydroxychloroquine and ivermectin during the COVID-19 pandemic. 'A clean sweep is needed to re-establish public confidence in vaccine science,' Kennedy wrote. 'The public must know that unbiased science—evaluated through a transparent process and insulated from conflicts of interest—guides the recommendations of our health agencies,' he added in a subsequent statement. After the initial measles outbreak in Texas, Kennedy made multiple appearances on Fox News where he downplayed the severity of the disease and gave questionable advice on treatments, including emphasizing the use of vitamin A. The Health secretary at first suggested natural immunity gained from having measles is more useful than the vaccine, though he later conceded the MMR shot is the 'most effective way' to prevent the disease. 'The changes at ACIP … were not unexpected, but they are jarring,' said Josh Michaud, senior expert in U.S. and global vaccine policy for KFF, a health policy research and news organization. Michaud fears that the firings and RFK Jr.'s vaccine skepticism will have a negative 'effect on parents who might have been on the fence about vaccinations or allow more space for policy-makers at the state and local level to change the rules about vaccinations.' Schools only have a few months to prepare as a reverse in vaccination trends is unlikely to occur in the near future. Research published this month by Johns Hopkins University in JAMA showed 1,600 counties around the country have vaccination rates below 91 percent, missing the 95 percent mark for herd immunity. The only states that have seen an increase in county-level immunizations are California, Massachusetts, Connecticut and New York. 'I believe that most, if not all, blue states will continue to have rigorous science based rules for vaccinating children as a condition of school entry. But many red states will follow RFK. Jr.'s advice,' Gostin said. 'In those states, parents should make sure that their children and family members are all up to date on currently recommended vaccinations. I don't think they should be reluctant to send their children to school or to have them wear masks. That is overkill,' he added. 'If they are fully vaccinated, children will be protected. If the child is immunocompromised, then extra precautions may be needed.' Schools will also need to review their policies on how to deal with outbreaks and potentially look at past advice — and not future federal guidance — for how to handle vaccine recommendations. 'I think it's really for schools as they are thinking about their policies, and the policies that many of these school districts have had for many, many years, in terms of the vaccination schedules, in terms of requirements around vaccinations — to really think about the importance of vaccinations for children and to follow the policies that have worked for many years,' said Neil Maniar, professor of public health practice at Northeastern University. Along with the rise in measles and growing 'risk for other infectious diseases,' schools may have to also contend 'higher rates of the flu and RSV and other communicable diseases' than in years past, Maniar said. 'So we really want to make sure that schools are putting forth policies that are designed to really promote the health and wellbeing of children and their families and others in the community,' he added.
The Hill
a day ago
- The Hill
How Kennedy's overhaul could make vaccines more expensive
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s moves to upend decades of vaccine policy could hit patients hardest in their wallets, as shifting guidance over shots could make insurance coverage confusing and scattershot. For decades, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) independent advisory panel recommended which shots Americans should get and when. The Affordable Care Act requires all insurance companies to cover, for free, all vaccines the panel recommends. Those recommendations also help states decide which shots should be mandated for schoolchildren. Kennedy's most recent move to purge the entire advisory panel and replace them with his own handpicked members, including several vocal vaccine critics, is throwing that process into doubt. 'If we have a system that has been dismantled — one that allowed for open, evidence-based decisionmaking and that supported transparent and clear dialogue about vaccines — and then we replace it with a process that's driven largely by one person's beliefs, that creates a system that cannot be trusted,' Helen Chu, a newly ousted member of the panel and professor of infectious disease at the University of Washington School of Medicine, said during a press conference. Vaccine prices vary, but without insurance, coronavirus vaccines can cost nearly $150, the MMR shot ranges from $95 to nearly $280, and the HPV vaccine can exceed $300, according to CDC data. Individual pharmacies could charge even more. Candace DeMatteis, policy director at the Partnership to Fight Infectious Disease, said she worries about creating a two-tiered system. 'Out of pocket costs for vaccines become an issue where we could end up with a system where some people can afford vaccinating themselves and their families and others cannot,' DeMatteis said. Prior to enactment of the Affordable Care Act, vaccine coverage varied significantly depending on the type of insurance a person had. If the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) changes recommendations for existing vaccines or doesn't recommend new ones, maintaining access will be difficult. 'It's a seismic shift, if you will, away from facilitating access by removing coverage and cost barriers, to one where there's great uncertainty and coverage and cost issues become barriers,' DeMatteis said. It's not clear what the vetting process was for the eight people Kennedy appointed to the ACIP, or how prepared they will be for their first meeting, which is scheduled to occur in less than two weeks. According to a Federal Register notice, the panel is scheduled to vote on recommendations for COVID-19 vaccines as well as meningococcal, HPV, influenza, and RSV vaccines for adults and maternal and pediatric populations. Health experts said they have serious questions about what direction the new panel will take and whether Americans will still have access to free vaccines, including the coronavirus shot, in time for fall respiratory season. If the ACIP is no longer a reliable, independent authority on vaccines, it 'will be replaced by a patchwork of different policies by different states, and each state will have to make its own decisions,' Chu said. 'Washington state is a place where we have experts and scientists who work together. There are other states where this may not exist, or where they may not choose to recommend vaccines. So that is going to create a lot of chaos,' she added. Some state health officials have already begun taking steps in that direction. The Illinois Department of Health said on social media it will be convening its own vaccine advisory committee and national experts 'to ensure we continue to provide clear, science-backed vaccine guidance for our residents.' When Kennedy unilaterally changed the COVID-19 vaccine guidance earlier this month to remove recommendations for pregnant women and change the open recommendation for children, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services said it would continue to recommend the shots for every person at least 6 months old. 'The recent changes in CDC guidance were not made based on new data, evidence, or scientific or medical studies, nor was the guidance issued following normal processes,' the agency said in a statement. Tina Tan, president of the Infectious Diseases Society of America, said her organization as well as other major medical groups including the American Medical Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics Academy have been speaking with insurance companies to urge them to continue paying for shots, even if the panel changes recommendations. Tan mentioned an initiative launched in April by a group of public health experts called the Vaccine Integrity Project, which is working to create an alternative process to maintain vaccine access. The initiative is funded by a foundation backed by Walmart heiress Christy Walton and led by Michael Osterholm, director of the University of Minnesota's Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy. Federal law is specific that insurance provisions are tied to the ACIP. Specialty organizations may have expertise to make their own recommendations, but they will still require the cooperation of insurance companies. States are also more limited, and they don't have the same power as the federal government to force coverage. 'I think it remains to be seen what the insurers are going to do,' Tan said. 'However, hopefully, with the discussions going on, they can get the insurers to understand that vaccines are extraordinarily safe and effective and are the best tool that we have to protect persons of all ages against serious vaccine preventable diseases.'
