Measles Cases Linked to Turkish Airlines, Bay Area

Health officials in Colorado and California's Bay Area have confirmed measles cases linked to international travel, prompting alerts about potential exposures at various public locations and on Turkish Airlines flight 201 from Istanbul to Denver on May 13. In Colorado, at least three cases—including a vaccinated adult and an unvaccinated toddler—are connected to the flight, with additional exposures reported at Denver-area businesses and hotels. In the Bay Area, a resident who traveled internationally tested positive and may have exposed people at H Mart in San Jose (May 21), Starbucks in Newark (May 23), and Trader Joe’s in Milpitas (May 25), marking the first Santa Clara County case since 2019. Public health agencies are reaching out to those potentially exposed and recommend anyone with symptoms like fever, cough, runny nose, red eyes, or rash seek medical advice. Most U.S. measles cases are among unvaccinated individuals, but rare breakthrough infections in vaccinated people can occur, usually with milder symptoms. Officials stress the importance of measles vaccination to reduce the risk of infection and severe illness.