Health officials are asking anyone who has been to the three locations in Arlington and D.C. to watch for signs of measles since early July.
A person with a confirmed case of measles, visiting outside the DC area, stopped at all three locations on July 1st and July 2nd. That means other people in those places may be exposed to measles while that person is contagious. .
Where were the areas of measles exposure?
According to Arlington County Public Health and DC Health Department officials, here are the places, days and times when people are most exposed to measles:
- Harris Teeter at 624B N Glebe Road in Arlington between 12pm and 4pm on July 1st
- CVS Pharmacy at 2226 Wisconsin Avenue NW in Washington, DC between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. July 2
- The LabCorp site at 2233 Wisconsin Avenue NW in Washington, DC from 11 a.m. to noon on Tuesday, July 2
If you or someone you know was in those places during those times, here’s what you need to know.
As the school year approaches, it’s important to make sure children are up to date on all vaccinations. News4’s Jummy Olabanji looks at what exactly it takes to ensure your children are safe when they return to class. Here’s more information about childhood immunizations and school requirements in your area. DC, Maryland, Virginia.
Who is at risk for measles?
People who have been vaccinated against measles are protected.
Two doses of the MMR vaccine, which protects against measles, mumps, and rubella, provide complete protection against the disease. (In other countries, there are measles-only vaccines that provide the same level of protection as the US MMR vaccine.)
A two-dose MMR vaccine provides lifelong protection.
If you receive just one dose of the MMR vaccine, you are more likely to be cured, even if you are exposed to measles. However, even if the risk of infection is low, health officials recommend that you talk to your doctor or other health care provider about getting that second dose of vaccine.
People born before 1957 have the so-called immunity to measles, because they caught the highly contagious disease when they were in school before the first vaccine was released. Bloomberg reported.
However, people born after 1957 who have never been vaccinated against measles, who are younger than 12 months old and who are too young to be vaccinated, and who are immunocompromised, should be monitored for possible symptoms.
What are the symptoms of measles?
Measles is very, very contagious. It is spread when an infected person breathes, coughs or sneezes, and symptoms appear in two stages, according to D.C. health officials.
The first stage, for most people infected with the virus, is a fever of 101 degrees or higher, with a runny nose, watery red eyes and a cough — which can look and feel the same as the flu, Covid, or the flu.
This first stage can begin seven to 14 days after a person is exposed to the flu. For those exposed in Arlington or DC, that means symptoms could appear any time before July 15 or 16.
The second stage of measles is a rash that starts on the face and spreads to other parts of the body. The rash may appear three to five days after the first symptoms appear.
The contagious window for measles starts four days before the rash appears and continues four days after the rash appears.
How long should an exposed person monitor for symptoms?
Because of that window of measles transmission, health officials are asking anyone in Arlington or D.C. who has been exposed to the virus to monitor for symptoms until July 22.
Should I isolate if I have been exposed to measles?
You do not need to self-isolate if you have been exposed to measles.
However, if you experience any symptoms of measles, health officials ask that you self-isolate at that time. Stay home and stay away from people who live in the same house as you.
It is especially important to stay away from children under 12 months of age or other unvaccinated people with any known case of measles. Those unvaccinated people are more susceptible to the disease if exposed.
Contact your health care provider immediately if you develop symptoms that could be measles. Call your doctor’s office or clinic before you go in person.