A person with a confirmed case of measles who visited a grocery store in Arlington, Virginia, on July 1 is the same person who visited two locations in Washington, DC, on July 2.
A person with a confirmed case of measles who visited a grocery store in Arlington, Virginia, on July 1 is the same person who visited two locations in the county on July 2.
The person, whose identity has not been released, may have exposed other people to the measles after visiting a Harris Teeter at 624B N Glebe Rd in Arlington between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m., the county health department said.
The DC Department of Health (DC Health) told WTOP that the same person may have exposed others to the measles at a CVS pharmacy at 2226 Wisconsin Ave NW, between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., and at a LabCorp location at 2233 Wisconsin Ave NW, between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., the following day.
The person’s origin was not disclosed, but the Arlington County Public Health Department said he was not from Virginia.
What should you do if you may have been infected with measles?
DC Health advises that you monitor for symptoms until July 23 if you may have been exposed, unless you have received a measles vaccine (either measles, mumps, or rubella). [MMR] vaccine or a measles-only vaccine available in other countries).
If you notice any symptoms of measles, you should immediately isolate yourself by staying home, staying away from others, and contacting your healthcare provider immediately.
If you need to visit your health care provider or go to the emergency room, DC Health says you should call ahead to report that you may have been exposed to measles so they can protect their staff and other patients.
If you have had two doses of the measles vaccine or were born before 1957, you are protected and do not need to take any action.
If you have an immunocompromised condition, DC Health says you should consult your healthcare provider if you have questions or develop symptoms.
What is measles?
“Some people think that measles is just a minor rash and fever that goes away in a few days. But measles can cause serious health complications, especially in children younger than 5,” according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
It was said that measles is highly contagious and that “if one person has it, 9 out of 10 people nearby will be infected if they are not protected.”
The CDC called the MMR vaccine the “best protection” against the vaccine-preventable infectious disease.
How Measles Spreads
“Measles is highly contagious. It spreads through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes,” the CDC said.
It said that a person can get measles “just by being in a room where a person with measles has been. This can happen even up to 2 hours after that person has left.”
Signs and symptoms of measles
According to the CDC, symptoms occur one to two weeks after exposure to the virus. Symptoms may include a high fever that can reach over 104 degrees Fahrenheit, cough, runny nose, rash, and red, watery eyes.
Are you at risk?
Anyone who is not protected against measles is at risk, the CDC said. It said measles “was declared eliminated from the United States in 2000.” But the virus “remains prevalent in many parts of the world.”
According to the CDC, unvaccinated travelers who contract measles while in other countries continue to bring the virus into the U.S. This applies to both Americans and international visitors.
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