(FOX 5 NY) – A flight attendant for Israeli airline El Al remains in a coma after becoming infected with measles. Health officials in Israel believe she contracted the highly contagious disease during a flight from New York to Tel Aviv in March. Israeli media reported the 43-year-old woman slipped into a deep coma 10 days ago and had suffered encephalitis, or inflammation of the brain. The attendant was breathing through a respirator, reported The Times of Israel.
An outbreak of the measles virus occurred in New York City, Rockland County, New York and in Israel. Infections were mostly centered in ultra-Orthodox communities were vaccination rates were low. The Ministry of Health has warned that people who were on board El AL flight 002 – which left JFK on Mar. 26 and landed in Israel the following day- seek immediate medical care if they develop symptoms of the disease. READ MORE