February 18th, 2026 Local News
St. Louis, Mo. (KFMO) - The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services says a person who traveled through St. Louis Lambert International Airport earlier this month has tested positive for measles.
According to Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, the individual, who was from out of state, passed through the airport on February 7, 2026. The person was reported to have been in Terminal 2, at baggage claim, and later rode Parking Spot shuttle number three to the parking lot. Health officials say passengers who may have been exposed during the person’s flight are currently being notified. The department notes the last confirmed case of measles in Missouri occurred in the summer of 2025. Anyone who may have been exposed is advised to monitor for symptoms for 21 days, through February 28, and report any symptoms to their local public health agency.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, symptoms typically appear seven to fourteen days after exposure, and measles can spread easily among unvaccinated individuals. State and federal health officials emphasize that vaccination is the most effective way to prevent measles. One dose of the measles-mumps-rubella vaccine is about 93 percent effective, while two doses increase protection to roughly 97 percent.