Lead
Missouri and Illinois health authorities say a person with laboratory-confirmed measles flew into St. Louis Lambert International Airport on Feb. 7 and may have exposed others at Terminal 2, baggage claim and on a Parking Spot shuttle between 5 and 7 p.m.; that same individual is believed to have attended services at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Collinsville on Feb. 8 between 8 a.m. and 12:15 p.m. Flight passengers are being notified directly, while local and state health departments are urging anyone with symptoms to isolate and contact a health care provider before seeking care. Officials emphasize measles is highly contagious and recommend vaccination or prompt clinical evaluation for those potentially exposed.
Key Takeaways
- Possible airport exposure: the infectious traveler was in Terminal 2 and baggage claim at St. Louis Lambert Airport on Feb. 7 from about 5–7 p.m. and used Parking Spot shuttle No. 3 to reach a parking area.
- Church exposure: Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Collinsville reported potential exposures for attendees present between 8:00 a.m. and 12:15 p.m. on Feb. 8.
- Notification and tracing: passengers on the affected flight are being notified directly; state and local health departments are working to identify other sites and contacts.
- Monitoring window: exposed persons should watch for measles symptoms for 21 days after exposure, meaning signs could appear through the end of February for these events.
- Vaccination guidance: two doses of MMR vaccine remain the most reliable prevention; unvaccinated adults can receive catch-up vaccination from their provider.
- Recent context: Missouri reported seven confirmed measles cases in 2025 (none in the St. Louis region) and Illinois recorded 14 cases statewide in 2025.
Background
Measles is a respiratory virus that spreads easily through airborne droplets and can remain infectious in an environment for up to two hours after an infected person leaves. Because modern air travel can move infectious individuals across jurisdictions quickly, airports are frequent focal points for public-health contact tracing and notifications. The individual in this incident lives in the Metro East area of Illinois but traveled by domestic flight into Missouri, prompting coordination between Missouri and Illinois public-health authorities to determine where exposures occurred and who must be alerted.
Public-health agencies use a combination of passenger manifests, witness reports and venue logs to identify potential contacts; in this case, one non-airport location has been confirmed so far: Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Collinsville. Health departments historically prioritize notifying high-risk groups first, including young children, pregnant people and immunocompromised individuals, because measles can cause severe complications such as pneumonia and encephalitis.
Main Event
State officials say the case involves a person who lives outside Missouri and flew into St. Louis Lambert International Airport on Feb. 7. The individual was in Terminal 2 and baggage claim between approximately 5 and 7 p.m., and later took Parking Spot shuttle No. 3 to a parking lot. Airport and health officials identified the flight and have begun direct notifications to passengers who were on that specific plane.
The Illinois Department of Public Health confirmed the same person may have exposed congregation members at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Collinsville on Feb. 8 during morning services that ran from 8 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Church leadership has notified attendees and worked with health officials to distribute guidance about monitoring, testing and vaccination. Local health departments will send direct notices as investigators identify additional locations and contact lists.
St. Louis Health Commissioner Victoria Anwuri urged anyone with symptoms to isolate and contact their health-care provider before visiting a clinic so medical staff can take precautions. Similarly, IDPH Director Sameer Vohra said clinicians should consider measles when patients present with compatible symptoms and immediately alert local public-health authorities about suspected cases.
Analysis & Implications
Interstate travel complicates containment because exposures occur across jurisdictional lines and require rapid information-sharing between public-health agencies. The confirmed timeline—airport exposure on Feb. 7 and church exposure on Feb. 8—gives investigators a clear window for targeted notifications, but asymptomatic infectious periods and casual contacts in public spaces can still yield secondary cases. Effective containment depends on rapid identification of contacts, timely vaccination or post-exposure prophylaxis where appropriate, and clinician awareness of measles signs.
The incident underscores persistent vulnerability where pockets of undervaccination exist or where travelers originate from areas with measles circulation. While overall U.S. vaccination coverage remains high in many communities, even a single infectious traveler can seed local outbreaks in congregate settings such as churches, airports and transit shuttles. Health systems in the region may need to triage testing and isolation resources if additional suspected cases arise.
For the public, the practical implication is straightforward: people who are unvaccinated or unsure of their immune status should consult providers about MMR vaccination, and clinicians should maintain a high index of suspicion for measles in patients with fever, cough, coryza and conjunctivitis followed by a rash. Public-health messaging that emphasizes both individual protection and community responsibility will be important to limit spread.
Comparison & Data
| Jurisdiction | Measles cases in 2025 |
|---|---|
| Missouri | 7 confirmed (none in St. Louis region) |
| Illinois | 14 confirmed statewide |
These recent-year case counts show small but meaningful levels of measles activity regionally; single imported cases can quickly change local risk assessments. Public-health responses scale with case counts: a handful of cases typically triggers enhanced contact tracing and community outreach, while larger clusters demand broader vaccination campaigns and resource mobilization.
Reactions & Quotes
“Measles is not just a routine childhood illness — it is a highly contagious and potentially serious disease,”
Victoria Anwuri, St. Louis Health Commissioner
Anwuri’s statement accompanied advice to isolate and to call a provider before seeking in-person care so clinicians can use appropriate infection-control measures.
“This first reported case of measles in Illinois in 2026 is a reminder to our Illinois residents that this disease can be prevented with up-to-date vaccination,”
Sameer Vohra, Illinois Department of Public Health Director
Vohra also urged clinicians to consider measles in patients with consistent symptoms and to notify local health departments promptly if they suspect a case.
Unconfirmed
- Exact seat assignments and proximity of other passengers on the affected flight have not been publicly disclosed; investigators are still determining which contacts meet exposure criteria.
- No secondary cases linked to these specific airport- or church-based exposures had been confirmed at the time of reporting; additional cases could be identified as contact tracing continues.
Bottom Line
The reported Feb. 7–8 exposures link a confirmed imported measles case to an airport terminal, a shuttle and a church service, triggering targeted notifications and reminders about vaccination. Local and state health departments are coordinating notifications and advising exposed people—especially the unvaccinated, pregnant people and immunocompromised individuals—to monitor for symptoms for 21 days and to seek medical advice promptly.
Practical next steps for readers: confirm MMR vaccination status, contact a health-care provider if symptoms develop, and follow public-health notifications for testing or post-exposure options. Rapid vaccination and clinician vigilance remain the most effective tools to prevent further spread.
Sources
- St. Louis Public Radio (local public radio report)
- Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (state public-health agency)
- Illinois Department of Public Health (state public-health agency)
- St. Louis Health Department (local health authority)