A child under the age of 5 has become Virginia’s first confirmed measles case of the year, health officials announced Saturday, as a nationwide outbreak of the highly contagious disease continues to spread.
The Virginia Department of Health said the child, who recently traveled internationally, may have exposed others to the virus at two Kaiser Permanente medical centers — one in Woodbridge and another in Fredericksburg — earlier this month. Officials are working to identify and notify anyone who may have come into contact with the patient during visits to those locations.
The child, who lives in Virginia’s northwest region — west of Loudoun County and south of Prince William County — has not been publicly identified. Health authorities have not confirmed where the child contracted the virus.
Measles is a viral illness that spreads through the air when an infected person breathes, coughs, or sneezes. Symptoms typically appear in two stages. The first includes fever above 101 degrees, runny nose, watery red eyes, and a cough, usually within one to two weeks of exposure. The second stage occurs several days later when a red rash spreads from the face to the rest of the body. People with measles are contagious from four days before the rash appears until four days after.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 800 confirmed measles cases in 25 jurisdictions as of last Thursday. Virginia’s new case had not yet been included in that tally.
As state officials issued the alert, the Alexandria Health Department urged Northern Virginia residents to remain vigilant. Those potentially exposed, not fully vaccinated, or born after 1957 should monitor for symptoms for 21 days. If symptoms appear, individuals should isolate and seek immediate medical care. Those who may be immunocompromised are advised to consult their healthcare provider.
“Vaccination remains our best defense against measles and is safe and highly effective at protecting people and preventing outbreaks,” said Virginia State Epidemiologist Laurie Forlano. “We urge Virginians, especially those planning to travel, to check their vaccination status, talk to their health care provider, and get the MMR vaccine if needed.”