Health officials warn of measles exposures at Fort Belvoir hospital, Amtrak train
Virginia's second case of the year involves preschool-age child who recently traveled internationally
The Alexandria Health Department is urging residents to check their vaccination status after potential measles exposures at two Northern Virginia locations earlier this month.
The Virginia Department of Health announced the state’s second confirmed measles case of 2026 involves a preschool-age child who recently traveled internationally.
Health officials identified two exposure sites. The first was aboard Amtrak Northeast Regional Train 175 traveling from Philadelphia’s William H. Gray III 30th Street Station to Washington Union Station on the evening of Jan. 7. The second site was the Alexander T. Augusta Military Medical Center at Fort Belvoir on Jan. 9, where the child visited the emergency department and executive medicine suite.
Anyone present at the Fort Belvoir facility between 9:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. or between 10 p.m. and midnight on that day may have been exposed.
Those who received the recommended MMR vaccine or were born before 1957 do not need to take special precautions, officials said. Unvaccinated individuals born after 1957 should monitor for symptoms for 21 days, including fever over 101 degrees, runny nose, cough, red or watery eyes, and rash.
Anyone experiencing symptoms should isolate and contact a doctor immediately.
Residents can verify their vaccination status through their physician or the Virginia MMR record portal. Those with questions may contact the Alexandria Health Department at 703-746-4988.