Two new measles cases confirmed in Maryland, health officials say
Two Prince George's County residents who recently traveled together internationally have been confirmed to have measles, the Maryland Department of Health said Thursday.
The positive cases are not related to the confirmed measles infection of a Howard County resident that was announced earlier this month, health officials said. The infections also are not associated with the growing measles outbreak that has struck parts of the southwestern United States, including New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas.
The state health department said it is coordinating efforts to identify passengers and others who may have been exposed on specific flights or other areas, including Washington Metro Area Transit and a medical center.
Anyone who visited these locations during the hours listed could have been exposed to measles, which is known to be highly infectious, health officials said.
The locations include:
Washington Dulles International Airport: Concourse A, on transportation to the International Arrivals Building (IAB) and in the baggage claim area
March 5th, 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Kaiser Permanente Largo Medical Center, 1221 Mercantile Lane, Upper Marlboro.
March 5-6, 7:30 p.m. to 4:30 a.m.
March 13, 4:15 a.m. to 10 a.m.
March 15, 7:45 a.m. to 3:15 p.m.
March 17, 2:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport: Terminal Shuttle Bus
March 14, 12 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Washington Metro Area Transit: Yellow Line Train from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport station transferring at the L'Enfant Plaza station to the Silver Line Train heading towards the Downtown Largo station
March 14, 12:15 p.m. to 3:15 p.m.
Passport Toyota, 5001 Auth Way, Suitland, Maryland
March 17, 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Anyone who believes they may have been exposed should monitor for symptoms for up to 21 days after exposure. Symptoms may include fever, runny nose, cough and red, watery eyes in the early stages of measles, followed by a spreading red rash.
Health officials said post-exposure treatment may be available for people who do not have immunity if the exposure occurred March 15 or March 17.
'People are generally considered immune to measles if they are up to date on measles vaccination, have had a laboratory confirm they either had measles during their lifetime or are immune to measles, or were born before 1957,' the state health department said in a news release Thursday.
In 2024, Maryland saw a single case of measles after recording one in the previous year as well. Both of those cases involved international travel, according to health department officials, who urge residents to check their vaccination status prior to traveling overseas.
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