D.C. health officials are warning of possible exposure to measles after three people with the illness made several stops in the region last month, including at the National March for Life rally and concert and Catholic University.
In addition, Virginia health officials said they are investigating a new measles case in a preschool-age resident. It’s the sixth case reported in the state so far this year.
Measles is a highly contagious illness that can spread easily through the air.
Dorian Walker, a spokesman for the District’s health department, said the confirmed cases in the city involved three people who had visited the District.
Most people in the D.C. region have immunity to measles through vaccination, lowering the risk to the general public.
But in a notice to the public, the city’s health department and Catholic University listed more than a dozen potential exposure sites:
- The Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, located at 400 Michigan Ave. NE in Washington, on Jan. 21 from 3:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.
- The National March for Life rally and concert on Jan. 23 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Catholic University’s Flather Hall from Jan. 22 through 27; Garvey Hall on Jan. 24 and 25 from noon to 3 p.m.; the Edward J. Pryzbyla University Center on Jan. 24 and 25 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.; and the St. Vincent de Paul Chapel on Jan. 25 from 9 p.m. to midnight.
- A Metro Red Line train from the Brookland-CUA station toward a transfer at the Gallery Place-Chinatown station, then a Metro Yellow Line train heading toward the Huntington station from Gallery Place, on Jan. 26 from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- Reagan National Airport on Jan. 26 from 12:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.
- A Yellow Line train from the National Airport station toward a transfer at Gallery Place, then a Red Line train heading toward the Glenmont station on Jan. 26 from 8:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m.
- A Red Line train from Brookland-CUA heading toward the Shady Grove stop on Jan. 27 from 1:15 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
- The Amtrak concourse at Union Station on Jan. 27 from 1:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
- Amtrak Northeast Regional Train 176, northbound from Union Station, on Jan. 27 from 4:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.
- Children’s National Hospital’s emergency room department, at 111 Michigan Ave. NW in Washington, on Feb. 2 from 11:15 a.m. to 1:45 p.m.
Officials at Catholic University said in a statement that one of the people diagnosed with measles arrived at the campus starting Jan. 22 and left shortly before noon on Jan. 27 to return to their home state. Flather, one of the Catholic buildings listed as a potential exposure site, is a residence hall.
In Virginia, health officials said in a statement that the newest case of measles there involves a child 4 or younger who lives in the northern region of the state. Officials said they did not know exactly when the child was diagnosed. But the agency said the child visited the Heathcote Health Center, located at 15195 Heathcote Blvd. in Haymarket, on Jan. 29 between 1:15 p.m. and 4:15 p.m.
Measles can spread easily when an infected person breathes, coughs or sneezes, and officials warned the virus can stay in the air for two hours after that measles leaves the space. It is so contagious, D.C. Health experts said, that roughly 9 out of 10 people who come close to a person with measles will also become infected if they are not vaccinated.
Symptoms of measles show up in two stages. First, most people have a fever that is greater than 101 degrees, plus a runny nose, watery red eyes and a cough. These symptoms usually start seven to 14 days after exposure. The second stage starts three to five days after the symptoms begin, when the person has a rash on their face that typically spreads to the rest of the body.
Anyone with measles is contagious from four days before the rash appears through four days after the rash appears, according to D.C. Health.
Officials advised anyone who believes they have been exposed or has concerns to contact D.C. Health at 844-493-2652.
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