The state Health Department is advising 250 passengers who were aboard Hawaiian Airlines Flight 15 from San Diego to Honolulu on Saturday of their potential exposure to measles.

Health Department spokeswoman Janice Okubo said today DOH began contacting all passengers last night at telephone numbers provided by the airline yesterday to inform them that a 10-month-old infant aboard the flight was confirmed to have measles by the state's laboratory.

An exposed 5-month-old Hawai'i resident was administered immune serum globulin by DOH to prevent measles infection, Okubo said.

"So far, four additional infants, potentially exposed on the flight, have been identified and will be administered preventive treatment by DOH," state epidemiologist Dr. Paul Effler said. "Hawaiian Airlines has been extremely supportive in this effort by providing passenger contacting information quickly."

According to San Diego health officials, the 10-month-old child is the fifth confirmed case of the measles in the county.The child is believed to have been exposed at Children's Clinic in La Jolla, where the first measles patient received care on Jan. 25.

The Health Department here is advising all passengers to consult physicians regarding their susceptibility to measles.

Measles is a highly contagious viral infection characterized by fever, cough, runny nose, conjunctivitis (i.e. red eyes), and a rash. It is transmitted by direct contact with droplets from a patient's respiratory tract or, less commonly, by airborne spread.

Patients are contagious from one to two days before the onset of symptoms (three to five days before the rash) to four days after appearance of the rash. The incubation period is generally eight to 12 days, with a range from seven to 18 days after exposure.

Complications of measles include ear infection, pneumonia and occasionally encephalitis. Fatality rates are increased in children younger than 5 years of age and immuno-compromised children.