The Louisiana Department of Health on Monday reported the state's third measles case of the year and warned that those who were at the New Orleans airport the night before may have been exposed.

Once nearly eradicated and preventable by vaccines, the highly contagious virus has raised public health alarms this year as outbreaks nationwide reached more than 1,600 cases as of Nov. 4.

Louisiana's latest case involves an adult who lives in Region 9, which includes Livingston, St. Helena, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa and Washington parishes, according to the Department of Health. The patient, whose vaccination status is unknown, was not hospitalized and will remain in isolation until no longer infectious, officials said.

The Department of Health said the individual was exposed to measles while tr

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