BOSTON (Reuters) – Say health officials are trying to track down travelers who might have been exposed to measles after a passenger who was contagious passed through three major U.S. airports.

A woman with a confirmed case of measles traveled from the United Kingdom through Washington Dulles International Airport, Denver International Airport and on to Albuquerque International Airport last week, stated Tom Skinner, spokesman for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The CDC has provided say health officials with information about passengers on those flights to start tracing who might have had contact and if immunizations are current, stated Skinner.

On Friday, Colorado health officials issued a warning to travelers and workers at Denver International Airport of doable exposure to the passenger who is from New Mexico and was at the airfield for several hours on Tuesday night.

Officials believe the diagnosed case of measles was contracted overseas, stated Skinner.

States, with assistance from the CDC, will determine who is at risk and typically look at other passengers seated near the confirmed case, he said.

Measles is a highly contagious airborne virus spread mortal to mortal that develops seven to 18 days after exposure. It looks and feels like a cold initially but later a rash develops on the grappling and spreads to the rest of the body.

People with measles are contagious four days before and four days after the tell-tale rash appears.

The latest containment and outreach efforts come as health officials in Boston are tracking three people suspected of crossing paths with a 24 year-old-woman whose diagnosis was confirmed early this month.

Some 180 people have been vaccinated at two free clinics held in the Boston office building where the woman had come to work while contagious.

Health officials in Boston also believe the confirmed case acquired the disease overseas.

Measles is a leading cause of death among kids in the developing world, but is seldom seen in the United Says where vaccination is required for all school children.

The most current massive outbreak of measles in the United Says was in 2008, where more than 130 cases were reported in 15 states, according to the CDC.

(Editing by Greg McCune)