2 measles cases reported from SIA transit passengers who spent 2 hours in Changi Airport

Two Singapore Airlines (SIA) transit passengers, who spent two hours in Singapore, were later confirmed to have contracted measles.

Both individuals were already infected before their arrival in Singapore, said the Communicable Diseases Agency (CDA), as reported by CNA.

They are also not linked to any other known local cases.

Same household

According to CDA, the two infected passengers were travelling from Hyberabad, India, and transited through Singapore for two hours before boarding another flight to Auckland, New Zealand.

They are reportedly from the same household.

The CDA was alerted to the two cases on Feb. 25 after the individuals had landed in Auckland, said CNA.

They were confirmed to have remained in the transit area at Changi Airport during their time in Singapore and are not linked to any existing known local cases.

Both passengers were also not linked to another similar case in early February, where an SIA passenger was also found to be infected with measles during their Singapore transit to Los Angeles, said CDA.

The airline told CNA it is monitoring the situation closely and working with authorities to ensure compliance with safety regulations.

Unwell passengers will be attended to by relevant medical authorities on arrival, and SIA advised passengers who are unwell to defer travel plans.

CDA also urged for passengers and airline crew to ensure they are fully vaccinated against measles prior to travel.

They are also advised to maintain good personal hygiene, avoid close contact with unwell persons and seek prompt medical attention should they develop symptoms.

Measles on the rise in Singapore

Measles cases are on the rise in Singapore, with 11 cases recorded in January 2026, according to a CDA press release.

In all 11 cases, which included three infants under 12 months old, the people infected were not fully vaccinated.

Most recently, an 11-month-old preschool student was confirmed to have contracted measles on Feb. 17, becoming the fifth measles case involving an infant under 12 months old this year.

In light of the spike in cases, CDA announced that it will be stepping up precautionary measures against measles, including through contact tracing for infected cases, and mandatory isolation for confirmed cases.

Top images via Canva