Two measles cases have been confirmed involving transit passengers who briefly stopped over in Singapore, raising fresh concerns as infections continue to climb locally.
The two travellers, who flew with Singapore Airlines, spent around two hours in transit at Changi Airport before continuing their journey overseas. Health authorities clarified that both individuals were already infected prior to their arrival in Singapore and did not contract the virus locally.
According to the Communicable Diseases Agency (CDA), the passengers were travelling from Hyderabad, India, en route to Auckland, New Zealand. They remained within the airport’s transit zone throughout their stopover and did not clear immigration.
No Link To Local Cases
The CDA was informed of the cases on Feb. 25 after the pair had arrived in Auckland and were subsequently diagnosed. Investigations found that the two individuals, who are from the same household, were not connected to any existing measles clusters in Singapore.
Authorities also confirmed there is no link to a separate incident earlier in February involving another transit passenger on a Singapore Airlines flight who was found to be infected while travelling through Singapore to Los Angeles.
The national carrier stated it is working closely with the relevant authorities and continues to comply with established aviation health and safety protocols. Passengers who feel unwell are advised to postpone their travel plans, while any symptomatic travellers upon arrival are attended to by medical personnel.
Measles Cases Climbing In Singapore
The latest transit cases come amid a broader uptick in measles infections locally. The CDA reported 11 confirmed cases in January 2026 alone. Notably, all affected individuals were either unvaccinated or not fully vaccinated against the virus.
Among the January cases were three infants under 12 months old, an age group particularly vulnerable as they are too young to complete the full vaccination schedule. More recently, an 11-month-old preschooler was confirmed infected on Feb. 17, marking the fifth infant case this year.
Health officials have reiterated the importance of immunisation, particularly for travellers and airline crew. Measles remains highly contagious and can spread rapidly in enclosed environments such as aircraft cabins and airport terminals.
In response to the spike, the CDA announced it will intensify contact tracing efforts and enforce mandatory isolation for confirmed cases. Members of the public are urged to practise good hygiene, avoid close contact with unwell individuals, and seek prompt medical attention if symptoms such as fever, cough, runny nose or rash develop.
While the recent transit cases pose minimal risk to the wider community due to the limited exposure window, authorities stress that vaccination remains the most effective safeguard against outbreaks.