The individual confirmed to have 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.
The person confirmed to have 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.
The person, whose identity has not been released, may have infected people with measles after visiting the Harris Teeter at 624B N Glebe Rd in Arlington between 1pm and 4pm. The county health department.
DC Department of Health (DC Health) told WTOP that the same person may have spread measles to others at the CVS Pharmacy at 2226 Wisconsin NW between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., and at the LabCorp facility at 2233 Wisconsin NW between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. the following day.
The person’s hometown has not been released, but Arlington County Public Health said he is not from Virginia.
What should I do if I think I may have been exposed to measles?
DC Health recommended that people who may have been exposed should monitor themselves for symptoms until July 23 unless they have received a measles-containing vaccine (measles, mumps, or rubella). [MMR] vaccine or measles-only vaccine available in other countries).
If you notice any symptoms of measles, you should immediately stay at home and isolate yourself away from others and contact your health care provider right away.
DC Health said if people need to seek medical attention or go to the emergency room, they should call ahead and let them know they may have been exposed to measles to protect staff and other patients.
People who have had two doses of the measles vaccine or were born before 1957 are protected and do not need to take any action.
DC Health says people who are immunocompromised should consult with their health care provider if they have questions or experience symptoms.
What is measles?
“Some people think of measles as a mild rash and fever that goes away in a few days. But measles can lead to serious health complications, especially in children under the age of five,” he said. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Measles is highly contagious, and “if one person is infected, nine out of 10 people in the vicinity will become infected if no protective measures are taken.”
The CDC MMR vaccine “Best defense” against vaccine-preventable infectious diseases.
How measles is transmitted
“Measles is highly contagious and spreads through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes,” the CDC says.
“You can get measles just by being in a room with someone who has measles. You can get infected even within two hours of that person leaving the room,” the report said.
Measles Signs and Symptoms
According to the CDC, symptoms may appear one to two weeks after exposure to the virus and include a high fever of over 104 degrees, cough, runny nose, rash, and red, watery eyes.
Are you at risk?
Anyone who doesn’t take precautions to prevent measles is at risk, according to the CDC, which says that while measles was “declared eradicated from the United States in 2000,” the virus “is still common in many parts of the world.”
The CDC said unvaccinated travelers who contract measles while in another country continue to bring the virus into the United States, including both Americans and international travelers.
Sign up to get the latest news and daily headlines delivered to your email here.
© 2024 WTOP. All rights reserved. This website is not intended for users in the European Economic Area.
