In brief: Sea-Tac visitors warned of measles exposure

SEATAC, Wash. – Public health officials are warning that people may have been exposed to measles at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.

In a news release, Public Health-Seattle and King County officials say a passenger who contracted a confirmed case of the disease – likely outside the United States – was contagious when he or she was at the airport. The passenger was at the north satellite terminal, on the interterminal train and at baggage claim between 8:10 p.m. and 11:30 p.m. on Sept. 6.

The traveler also went to The Bistro, a restaurant at the Courtyard Seattle Federal Way hotel that night.

Officials said most people have been vaccinated for measles or have had measles previously. But if not, and if they may have been exposed at those locations, the most likely time they would become sick is between Sept. 13 and 27.

Possible patients are asked to call a doctor if they develop an illness or fever with unexplained rash. To avoid exposing others they should not go to a clinic or hospital without calling first.

People at highest risk are those who are unvaccinated, pregnant women, infants under 6 months old and those with weakened immune systems.

Turtles from Montana to be released in Texas

BILLINGS – The Humane Society is offering to take people’s unwanted pet red-eared slider turtles in Montana and release them in Texas, where they are a native species.

Red-eared sliders now are illegal to own in Montana without a permit. Red-eared sliders are popular pets but also an invasive species.

The goal of the one-time offer to collect red-eared sliders and truck them to Burro Lake in Texas is to prevent as many as possible from being released into lakes in Montana.

“Red-eared sliders are on the list of the 100 most invasive species in the world,” said Allison Begley of the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks. “They’re omnivores. They eat anything, and they adapt to any habitat.”

Several Montana waters already have been invaded by red-eared slider turtles.

Dave Pauli with the Humane Society plans to keep the collected red-eared sliders in large ponds, where they can adapt to living in the wild, the Billings Gazette reported.

Turtles that are able to catch food on their own will be set aside for release.