Student Health
Travel Advisory For Those Using Memphis Airport
People who visited the airports in Detroit, Memphis and Newark, N.J., in recent days may have been exposed to measles.
People who visited the airports in Detroit, Memphis and Newark, N.J., in recent days may have been exposed to measles, as two international travelers have separately been diagnosed with the highly contagious disease, health officials said. Measles is a viral illness with an incubation period of around 13 days, and presents with fever, cough, conjunctivitis, and a typical rash that begins about four days after fever and starts on the face before spreading to the remainder of the body. It is highly contagious, with about 90 percent of susceptible close contacts acquiring the disease after exposure. Complications include pneumonia, diarrhea and encephalitis.
Measles immunization (MMR) is a requirement for enrollment at the University of Mississippi. The vaccine is highly effective although not a 100 percent guarantee. Treatment is primarily supportive with fever control, hydration and rest in addition to self-isolation to reduce exposure of others. Patients with severe symptoms including high fever, shortness of breath, vomiting or severe headache should seek medical attention. For more information, please refer to https://www.cdc.gov/measles/ and https://healthcenter.olemiss.edu/.