The D.C. Division of Well being (D.C. Well being) has confirmed a case of measles in a world traveler who not too long ago arrived in Washington, D.C., prompting an pressing warning about potential public exposures in a number of areas throughout the area.
Officers at the moment are notifying people who could have come into contact with the virus at key areas in D.C., Maryland and Virginia.
The contaminated traveler arrived at Dulles Worldwide Airport on June 8 and was in Concourse A, in transit to the Worldwide Arrivals Constructing, and within the baggage declare space from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. That very same day, the traveler rode the Washington Metropolitan Space Transit Authority’s Silver Line Prepare from the Dulles Airport Station, transferring at Metro Middle Station to the Pink Line Prepare towards Shady Grove Station between 11:30 a.m. and a couple of:30 p.m.
From there, the particular person visited the Russian College of Arithmetic at 8401 Connecticut Avenue in Chevy Chase, Maryland, between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m., earlier than boarding the southbound L8 Metrobus to Friendship Heights between 5 p.m. and seven p.m.
“Measles is a extremely contagious viral respiratory illness that spreads simply by way of the air when an contaminated particular person breathes, coughs or sneezes,” the D.C. well being division mentioned in a press release.
Virginia well being officers famous they’re “coordinating an effort to determine individuals who might need been uncovered, together with contacting doubtlessly uncovered passengers on particular flights.”
As of late Might, greater than 1,000 measles instances have been recorded in america within the first 4 months of 2025. Within the D.C. area, a number of confirmed instances have already been reported, together with at the very least three in Virginia and three in Maryland, as of earlier this 12 months.
Measles signs usually develop in two phases. Throughout the first stage, which begins 7 to 14 days after publicity, people usually expertise a fever over 101°F, together with a runny nostril, crimson, watery eyes, and a cough. The second stage happens 3 to five days after the preliminary signs start when a particular rash seems on the face and steadily spreads to the remainder of the physique.
An individual with measles is contagious from 4 days earlier than the rash seems till 4 days after it emerges. Critical problems can happen, together with pneumonia, mind swelling (encephalitis), and dying.
On June 12, officers confirmed extra publicity. They mentioned the traveler took the westbound H4 Metrobus to Tenleytown from 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. and visited MedStar Well being Pediatrics at 4200 Wisconsin Avenue NW between 8 a.m. and a couple of:30 p.m.
Officers cautioned that anybody who was on the listed areas on the desired dates and instances and who has by no means obtained a measles-containing vaccine, both the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine or a measles-only vaccine accessible in different international locations, could also be prone to creating measles.
“When you discover the signs of measles, instantly isolate your self by staying residence and away from others,” D.C. Well being advises. “Contact your healthcare supplier instantly. Name forward earlier than going to your healthcare supplier’s workplace or the emergency room to inform them that you will have been uncovered to measles and ask them to name the well being division to assist defend different sufferers and workers.”
Defending from Measles Publicity
Well being officers advocate that people uncovered to the virus and in danger for creating measles carefully monitor themselves for signs for 21 days following the date of their final publicity. Those that have obtained two doses of a measles-containing vaccine or had been born earlier than 1957 are thought of protected and don’t have to take any motion.
“You probably have obtained just one dose of a measles-containing vaccine, you might be very more likely to be protected and your threat of being contaminated with measles from any of those exposures may be very low,” officers mentioned. “Nonetheless, to realize full immunity, contact your healthcare supplier about getting a second vaccine dose.”
Well being officers are particularly urging warning for people with immuno-compromising circumstances, and recommend contacting a well being care supplier for questions or if individuals imagine they’re creating signs.
D.C. Well being famous that measles is preventable by way of a secure and efficient vaccine.
“Measles is preventable by way of a secure and efficient MMR vaccine. Two doses of the vaccine are given to supply lifetime safety,” they added.
One particular person took to X, previously referred to as Twitter, begging these within the Washington metropolitan space to get vaccinations after reported instances earlier this 12 months.
“Please get vaccinated for measles, my DMV individuals,” a social media consumer wrote on X in March.
Nonetheless, infants youthful than 12 months of age are too younger to be vaccinated. These infants, and others who aren’t vaccinated, are very vulnerable to an infection if they’re uncovered to somebody with measles.
“When you or your little one haven’t but obtained the vaccination, please name D.C. Well being or a healthcare supplier to get the primary of two doses as quickly as attainable,” officers mentioned.
Well being care suppliers are urged to keep up an elevated index of suspicion for measles in any clinically suitable instances, notably in sufferers who could have been uncovered.
“Well being care suppliers ought to at all times preserve an elevated index of suspicion for measles in clinically suitable instances, particularly if sufferers had been not too long ago uncovered,” officers acknowledged. “Measles is an instantly reportable illness. Contact DC Well being instantly to report any suspected instances and organize for public well being testing.”
For extra info or for well being care suppliers to report suspected instances, name 844-493-2652 or submit a Notifiable Illness and Situation Case Report Type on-line utilizing the D.C. Reporting and Surveillance Middle, accessible at dchealth.dc.gov, the place there’s additionally testing and an infection management steerage.
