Alexandria health officials report measles exposures at Reagan National, Metro
Preschool-age child among confirmed cases as outbreak spreads across northern Virginia
A preschool-age child is among the latest confirmed measles cases in northern Virginia as health officials announced new exposure sites including Reagan National Airport and the Washington Metro system.
The Alexandria Health Department issued an alert Saturday identifying three locations where the public may have been exposed to the virus in late January. The exposures mark the third round of warnings in two weeks as measles cases continue to surface in the region.
The new sites include Reagan National Airport’s Terminal 2 between 12:30 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. Jan. 26, the Heathcote Health Center at 15195 Heathcote Blvd. in Haymarket between 1:15 p.m. and 4:15 p.m. Jan. 29, and Metro’s Yellow Line from Reagan National transferring to the Red Line toward Glenmont at Gallery Place-Chinatown between 8:30 p.m. and 11:30 p.m. Jan. 26.
The child is among the local cases, while a separate confirmed case involves an out-of-state resident who passed through Reagan National on Jan. 26.
Health officials are asking anyone present at the listed locations to fill out a survey for the Virginia Department of Health immediately. Those who have received two doses of the measles vaccine, were born before 1957 or have previously had measles are considered protected.
Unvaccinated individuals should monitor for symptoms for 21 days, including fever over 101 degrees, runny nose, cough, red or watery eyes and rash.
Those with questions may email epi_response@vdh.virginia.gov or call the Alexandria Health Department at 703-746-4988.