The Center for Disease Prevention and Control (CDPC) has received a report of a laboratory-confirmed case of measles and urges individuals who may have come into contact with the infected person to respond, the agency LETA was informed by the center.
The information received so far indicates that the infection may have occurred on February 21–22 in Riga at the event "Ļutauras viktorinas."
The epidemiological investigation shows that the person infected with measles flew from Riga to Turkey on March 5, 2026, on flight No. TK1758. The Center for Disease Prevention and Control (CDPC) has notified the responsible authorities in Turkey to identify passengers who may have been at risk of infection.
At the same time, the CDPC urges all individuals who participated in the "Ļutauras viktorinas" event in Riga on February 21–22, as well as those who flew from Riga to Turkey on the specified flight on March 5, to contact the CDPC epidemiologists at the 24-hour phone number 67271738 or write to the email dezurants.riga@spkc.gov.lv to individually assess risks and receive necessary recommendations.
CDPC specialists are conducting an epidemiological investigation to clarify the circumstances of the infection, identify the possible source of infection, establish contacts of the infected individual, and organize necessary measures to prevent the spread of the infection. Since this case of measles is likely related to international travel, epidemiologists from other countries are also involved in the epidemiological investigation and the organization of anti-epidemic measures. It is known that individuals from Lithuania also participated in the event, so information about the possible case of illness has been forwarded to the responsible authorities in Lithuania.
The center emphasizes that in the case of measles, it is especially important to identify and warn contacts about the risk of infection, as well as to determine whether there have been other cases of illness that could form new chains of infection spread in the community. Therefore, it is important to find out if any participants in the event had symptoms of measles during the incubation period of the infection. The incubation period of the infection for airplane passengers has not yet concluded, so it is important for them to receive recommendations for monitoring their health and actions in case of illness.
Measles is a highly contagious viral disease that is transmitted from person to person through tiny droplets in the air when an infected person talks, coughs, or sneezes. There is particularly high risk of infection when being in the same room as an infected individual.
If characteristic symptoms of measles appear — elevated body temperature, runny nose, cough, redness of the eyes, and later a red spotted rash on the skin — it is recommended to stay at home, contact a doctor, report the possible risk of infection, and carefully follow the doctor's instructions.
