(Washington, DC) — The District of Columbia Department of Health (DOH) and the Fairfax County Health Department confirmed today a single case of measles. The current case of measles is a case resulting from international travel. The individual visited various locations in Virginia and Washington, DC. During a short stay in Washington, DC the individual visited the Embassy Suites Hotel, located at 900 10th St. NW, Washington, DC between the dates of May 10, 2015 and May 15, 2015 and the International Finance Corporation (IFC) headquarters located at 2121 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC between May 11, 2015 and May 13, 2015. 
 

DOH officials are currently in the process of contacting all individuals known to have been exposed to the infected patient. It is important to remember that if you have been immunized against measles your risk of contracting the virus is minimal. All DC residents unsure of their immunization status who have not previously had measles are strongly encouraged to get vaccinated. It is especially important that children over 12 months of age get vaccinated.
 

“As we continue to jointly monitor this situation with the Fairfax County Health Department and the Virginia Department of Health, residents are strongly encouraged to get vaccinated,” said DOH Director Dr. LaQuandra S. Nesbitt. “Adequate prevention and protection of measles requires we work together as a city to educate, inform and help ensure residents are equipped with the necessary tools and resources needed to reduce possible new cases of measles in the future. We are asking all healthcare providers to review their patients’ immunization history at every visit to ensure that everyone is protected.”
 

Measles is a highly contagious illness that may have the following symptoms: fever, pink or red eyes, and cough, followed by a red blotchy rash that appears on the 3rd to 7th day beginning on the face and spreading to the rest of the body. The disease is more severe in infants and adults.

 

Transmission:
Measles is spread from person-to-person by direct contact with nasal or throat secretions of an infected person or through the air from an infected person’s coughing or sneezing. Symptoms can appear from 7 to 21 days, but most commonly at 14 days following exposure. It is estimated that 90 percent of individuals exposed to a person infected with measles who are not immune will become infected. People who have not had the disease or who have not been successfully immunized through vaccination are at risk for infection.
 

Prevention:

Measles can be prevented by a safe and highly effective two dose vaccination. The first dose of measles vaccine is usually given between 12 and 15 months of age. A second dose of vaccine is given at school entry (4 to 6 years of age). Both doses are generally given as a combined measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine.
 

Residents who were present at any of the two locations mentioned above during those dates should review their family’s vaccination history and contact their health care provider to discuss MMR vaccination history as well as possible exposure to measles. If a person was present at any of those two locations and has not received the MMR vaccination, we are asking that person to contact the local health department. For concerns about possible exposures in Washington, DC, residents should contact the District of Columbia Department of Health at (202) 420-0199.
 

Some helpful links to regional health departments are: www.doh.dc.gov for the District of Columbia Department of Health; www.fairfaxcounty.gov/hd for the Fairfax County Health Department; www.vdh.state.va.us for the Virginia Department of Health and www.dhmh.maryland.gov for the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.

 

For more information, visit doh.dc.gov.