American Airlines passengers sick at Philadelphia Airport, CDC alerted

AP

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is investigating
after 12 American Airlines passengers on two separate flights
from Europe to Philadelphia International Airport fell ill with
flu-like symptoms on Thursday.

“This afternoon, 12 passengers arriving at Philadelphia
International Airport on international flights on American
Airlines from Paris and on American Airlines from Munich – were
experiencing flu-like symptoms,” the airport said in a
statement.

“As a precaution, all passengers on the two flights –
totaling about 250 plus crew – were held for a medical review and
the CDC was notified.”

According to the CDC, the sick passengers reported
experiencing a sore throat and cough, but none had a
fever.

“None of the passengers are severely ill, and they will be
released and informed of test results in 24 hours,” the
agency said in a statement. 

 
American Airlines did not immediately
return Business Insider’s request for comment. 

Customs and Border Protection officials told NBC San Diego that the sick
passengers all originated from Mecca, Saudi Arabia, where there
was recently a flu outbreak. 

The incident comes one day after about an Emirates jet was
quarantined at JFK International Airport in New York City and 11
passengers were hospitalized with flu-like symptoms.