A Montgomery County resident who recently traveled abroad has a confirmed case of measles, the Maryland Department of Health said in a Thursday release.
“Measles is a contagious vaccine-preventable viral infection that is easily spread to unvaccinated persons through coughing, sneezing and secretions from the mouth,” the health department stated.
The Department of Health said that anyone who visited the following locations during these times may have been exposed:
- Washington Dulles International Airport International Terminal
- Jan. 27 from 6 to 9:30 a.m.
- Claridge House at 2445 Lyttonsville Road in Silver Spring
- Jan. 27 from 7:30 to 10 a.m. Jan. 27 at 6 p.m. to Jan. 28 at 1 a.m.
- Jan. 29 from 7 to 10 a.m.
- Suburban Hospital Emergency Department at 8600 Old Georgetown Road in Bethesda
- Jan. 27 from 7 to 11 p.m.
The Department of Health said in the release that “People are generally considered immune to measles if they have had two measles vaccine shots, previously had measles or laboratory evidence of immunity or infection or were born in the United States before 1957.”
Health officials provided some guidance on symptoms to look for:
- Fever of over 101 degrees
- Runny nose
- Cough
- A red rash on the face that can spread to the rest of the body
Measles symptoms usually develop 10-14 days after being exposed to the virus but can develop as early as seven days or as late as 21 days, health officials said.
A person with measles is contagious four days before the tell-tale rash appears until four days after the rash starts, according to the Department of Health.
Health officials said that those who are not immune to measles and were at the locations at the times listed should monitor themselves for 21 days after the possible exposure to any symptoms. If any of these individuals develop a fever or other measles symptoms, they should not go out in public and need to contact their doctor, the health department said.
Also, pregnant women, infants less than one year old and immune-comprised individuals are the most vulnerable to complications from measles, according to the health department.
Health officials said that people in these categories who have possibly been exposed and are not immune should contact their healthcare provider or call Montgomery County Health and Human Services’ Disease Control Office at 240-777-1755.
In recent years, there has been a global increase in measles, and in Maryland, there was one case in 2023 and five reported in 2019, according to the Department of Health.