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Yahoo
26-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Health officials in D.C. on alert after person exposes Amtrak rail passengers to measles
March 26 (UPI) -- In Washington, D.C., the Department of Health said Tuesday it is investigating a confirmed measles case. The infected person took an Amtrak train from New York to the District of Columbia and visited an urgent care facility while contagious, officials said. "[D.C.] Health was notified of a confirmed case of measles in a person who visited multiple locations in [D.C.] while contagious," health officials said in a statement. '[D.C.] Health is informing people who were at these locations that they may have been exposed." Amtrak said in a statement, "[D.C.] Public Health has notified Amtrak of a confirmed case of measles in a customer traveling on Amtrak Train 175 from New York to Washington Union Station on Wednesday, March 19. Amtrak is reaching out directly to customers who were on this train to notify them of possible exposure." The unidentified person was aboard Amtrak's Northeast Regional 175 train southbound March 19 between 7:30 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. The person was also at the Amtrak Concourse at Union Station, 50 Massachusetts Ave. NE in D.C. from 11:00 p.m. to 1:30 a.m., and at MedStar Urgent Care Adams Morgan between 7:00 p.m. and 11:00 p.m. March 22. People at those locations during those times who might have been exposed and are not immune are urged to contact their healthcare provider for more guidance. "Measles is a highly contagious illness that can spread easily through the air when an infected person breathes, coughs, or sneezes," the DC health department said in a statement. "Measles symptoms usually appear in two stages. In the first stage, most people have a fever of greater than 101 degrees, a runny nose, watery red eyes and a cough. These symptoms usually start 7 to 14 days after being exposed." So far this year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has confirmed 378 measles cases across at least 17 states, as well as in DC. MedStar Washington Hospital Center infectious diseases director Dr. Glenn Wortmann said in a statement, "It's being spread in communities much more widely than we have seen in the past, and the way to stop that from happening is keep your vaccination rates up." The Washington Post, citing D.C. chief epidemiologist Brittani Saafir-Callaway, said the contagious person had been vaccinated and was not hospitalized. Minnesota health officials confirmed Wednesday that the person in question lives in Hennepin County and had recently traveled both domestically and internationally. People who have gotten two doses of measles vaccine or were born prior to 1957 are immune and no action is recommended for them. On March 21, the number of measles cases in Texas was greater than the number of measles infections in the entire United States in 2024. According to the CDC, one person is confirmed to have died from measles in 2025 and a second death is under investigation.
Boston Globe
26-03-2025
- Health
- Boston Globe
A person with measles traveled in DC while contagious, officials say
'D.C. has a very high vaccination rate for measles, so the opportunity for an outbreak in the District is very low,' Saafir-Callaway said. Advertisement The individual seems to be recovering and has not been hospitalized, she said. The person was vaccinated, she said. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up Amtrak is reaching out directly to customers who were on the train to notify them of possible exposure, rail officials said in a statement. The individual was a passenger on the Northeast Regional 175, DC officials said. The train typically runs from Boston to the District, according to the Amtrak website. As of Friday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention was not tracking any cases from Minnesota this year, according to the CDC website. Ahead of spring and summer travel season, the agency also urged health-care providers to share vaccination guidelines and be vigilant if measles-like symptoms appear in patients. Separately, three cases of measles related to international travel were reported by the Maryland Department of Health earlier this month. It's common for regional health officials to report a handful of cases annually in people who contracted the illness while out of the country. Outbreaks in Texas, New Mexico and Oklahoma, however, have been linked to unvaccinated people or people whose vaccination status is unknown, public health officials said. More than 300 cases have been associated with the outbreaks, including two people who died of measles-related illness. District officials said the person with the confirmed case visited multiple areas in DC, and are trying to identify people who may have come into contact with the virus at the following locations: Advertisement - Amtrak Northeast Regional 175 Train Southbound on March 19 between 7:30 p.m. and March 20 at 1:30 a.m. - Amtrak Concourse at Union Station, 50 Massachusetts Ave. in Northeast, on March 19 between 11 p.m. and March 20 at 1:30 a.m. - MedStar Urgent Care in Adams Morgan, at 1805 Columbia Rd. in Northwest, on March 22 between 7 p.m. and 11 p.m. Anyone who may have been exposed - especially those not fully vaccinated or otherwise immune to measles who were at any of these locations during the possible exposure times - should contact their health-care provider or the DC health department at 844-493-2652. Exposed people who develop a fever or other symptoms of measles should not go out in public and should contact their health-care provider before going to a hospital waiting room or emergency department, to prevent further spread. Early symptoms of measles include a fever above 101 degrees, runny nose, cough, and red, watery eyes. Usually, one to four days after the early symptoms, a red rash appears on the face and spreads to the rest of the body. A person with measles is contagious, beginning four days before the rash appears until four days after the rash begins, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. People are generally considered immune to measles if they are current on their vaccination, have had a lab-confirmed case during their lifetime or are immune to measles, or were born before 1957. Geeta Sood, an infectious-disease physician at Johns Hopkins University, said the best approach to the increase in measles cases is to prevent infection through vaccination. Sood said the vaccines is 93 percent effective at one dose and 97 percent at two doses. Advertisement 'That's what is going to prevent this exposure ... from spinning completely out of control as it has in Texas and other areas,' she said. Sood said she and most doctors in her field have not seen measles cases so far in their careers because it 'has been essentially eradicated in this country other than imported cases.' However, infection is a serious concern for people who are not fully vaccinated or unvaccinated, such as children under a year old and immunosuppressed individuals, she said. That is why, Sood said, so many physicians are 'aghast' at the fact that measles cases are growing and the best prevention tool - vaccination - isn't being fully deployed due to hesitancy. Public health is not as trusted as it once was due to the pandemic as well and misinformation and disinformation campaigns, she said. 'It's not a surprise that even well-meaning parents may be confused about the benefits and risks, which are almost none in this situation,' Sood said.
Yahoo
26-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
First confirmed case of measles in Washington, D.C. investigated by health officials
A confirmed case of measles in Washington, D.C. is being investigated by health officials after the contagious person visited several locations in the DC Department of Health warned the public of the potential exposure in a press release shared late Tuesday morning. Tennessee Reports First Measles Case Amid U.s. OutbreakAccording to the release, those who were in the following places in the district at the listed times may have been exposed: Amtrak Northeast Regional 175 Train (Southbound): March 19, 7:30 p.m. through 1:30 a.m. Amtrak Concourse, Union Station: March 19, 11:00 p.m. through 1:30 a.m. MedStar Urgent Care, Adams Morgan: March 22, 7:00 p.m. through 11:00 p.m. Measles is a highly contagious virus that spreads through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes. Symptoms usually start 7 to 14 days after exposure. Symptoms include a fever over 101°F as well as a cough, runny nose, and red or watery eyes. Read On The Fox News App The most distinctive symptom of measles, appearing 3 to 5 days after onset of symptoms, is a rash that starts on the face and spreads across the body. Infected people can spread measles four days before the rash appears and up to four days afterward. Maryland Confirms First Measles Case In Traveler At Major Dc Airport If you have been exposed to measles or were at one of the locations shared by the DC Department of Health during the times listed and are not vaccinated, health officials recommend watching for symptoms until 21 days after exposure. If you are in Washington, D.C., health officials also recommend calling a doctor or DC Health at 844-493-2652 for additional guidance. Those exposed to measles are urged to stay home and avoid others if any symptoms appear. Nearby Maryland experienced its first confirmed case of measles in a traveler at the Baltimore airport on March 10. The virus has swept much of the Northeast this winter. People who have received two doses of the MMR or measles vaccine or were born before 1957 are considered protected. Those with only one dose of the vaccine are mostly protected but may seek a second shot for full immunity. Measles is considered preventable with the MMR vaccine, which offers lifetime protection with two doses. Infants under 12 months old and those who are unvaccinated are considered most at-risk for measles. Measles has been on the rise across the nation this cold and flu season, with 327 cases reported in Texas as of Tuesday, March 25. 40 people have been hospitalized from the outbreak so far in the Lone Star CDC has confirmed a total of 378 cases nationwide as of March 20 in a article source: First confirmed case of measles in Washington, D.C. investigated by health officials
Fox News
25-03-2025
- Health
- Fox News
First confirmed case of measles in Washington, D.C. investigated by health officials
A confirmed case of measles in Washington, D.C. is being investigated by health officials after the contagious person visited several locations in the DC Department of Health warned the public of the potential exposure in a press release shared late Tuesday morning. TENNESSEE REPORTS FIRST MEASLES CASE AMID U.S. OUTBREAKAccording to the release, those who were in the following places in the district at the listed times may have been exposed: Amtrak Northeast Regional 175 Train (Southbound): March 19, 7:30 p.m. through 1:30 a.m. Amtrak Concourse, Union Station: March 19, 11:00 p.m. through 1:30 a.m. MedStar Urgent Care, Adams Morgan: March 22, 7:00 p.m. through 11:00 p.m. Measles is a highly contagious virus that spreads through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes. Symptoms usually start 7 to 14 days after exposure. Symptoms include a fever over 101°F as well as a cough, runny nose, and red or watery eyes. The most distinctive symptom of measles, appearing 3 to 5 days after onset of symptoms, is a rash that starts on the face and spreads across the body. Infected people can spread measles four days before the rash appears and up to four days afterward. If you have been exposed to measles or were at one of the locations shared by the DC Department of Health during the times listed and are not vaccinated, health officials recommend watching for symptoms until 21 days after exposure. If you are in Washington, D.C., health officials also recommend calling a doctor or DC Health at 844-493-2652 for additional guidance. Those exposed to measles are urged to stay home and avoid others if any symptoms appear. Nearby Maryland experienced its first confirmed case of measles in a traveler at the Baltimore airport on March 10. The virus has swept much of the Northeast this winter. People who have received two doses of the MMR or measles vaccine or were born before 1957 are considered protected. Those with only one dose of the vaccine are mostly protected but may seek a second shot for full immunity. Measles is considered preventable with the MMR vaccine, which offers lifetime protection with two doses. Infants under 12 months old and those who are unvaccinated are considered most at-risk for measles. Measles has been on the rise across the nation this cold and flu season, with 327 cases reported in Texas as of Tuesday, March 25. 40 people have been hospitalized from the outbreak so far in the Lone Star CDC has confirmed a total of 378 cases nationwide as of March 20 in a release.
CBS News
25-03-2025
- Health
- CBS News
D.C. health officials confirm measles case in Amtrak passenger who rode train to the capital
A person with a confirmed measles infection may have exposed Amtrak passengers on a train to Washington, D.C., earlier this month, officials at the D.C. Department of Health said. Health officials said Monday in a statement that the agency "was notified of a confirmed case of measles in a person who visited multiple locations in D.C. while contagious." Others who were at the same locations — an Amtrak train, a D.C. train station and an urgent care center — could potentially have been exposed at those times. The measles patient rode the southbound Amtrak Northeast Regional 175 train on March 19, from 7:30 p.m. to 1:30 a.m., arriving at Union Station, the city's main train station, the health department said. Officials said the infected person then visited a MedStar Urgent Care in the Adams Morgan neighborhood of D.C. on March 22, between 7 p.m. and 11 p.m . Health care providers are required to report all suspected and confirmed cases of measles to the D.C. health department. Individuals who might have been at exposed at any of those locations are advised to contact their providers or D.C. health officials by calling 844-493-2652, although officials note that people who have been vaccinated against measles are likely protected. Neither the identity nor a description of the individual with measles has been released, and officials have not clarified whether that person was vaccinated against the virus. This case comes amid a marked spike in measles infections in the United States, which since the start of 2025 has already recorded the most measles cases in a single year since 2019, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Most of those infections stemmed from a Texas outbreak that has sickened more than 300 people since late January and resulted in one child's death . An adult with measles also died in New Mexico . Considered one of the most contagious infectious diseases, measles can in some instances cause severe infections that result in cognitive issues, deafness and even death. The CDC warns that roughly 1 of every 1,000 children with measles develops brain swelling that can lead to brain damage, and as many as 3 of every 1,000 children with measles dies from the disease. A vaccine against the illness, usually administered as part of the measles-mumps-rubella or MMR shot, is highly effective and safe , with the CDC reporting that two doses are about 97% effective at preventing measles, and a single dose is about 93% effective. The Texas outbreak, for instance, occurred in a community with very low vaccination rates, and Texas health officials said the child who died in that outbreak was unvaccinated. The U.S. has confirmed at least 377 measles cases so far this year, as of the latest CDC update on Friday, March 21. There have been cases in at least 16 states, including Texas, California, Florida, Georgia, New Mexico and New York. The CBS News data team is tracking confirmed measles cases nationwide as state health departments and the CDC continue to release data (the map below is updated with new data from the CDC on Fridays). Measles symptoms usually appear between 7 and 14 days after exposure to the virus, according to the CDC . Symptoms can include a high fever, cough, runny nose, red and watery eyes, and a rash. The virus spreads through the air when an infected person coughs, sneezes or talks . Contracting the virus is also possible by entering a room where the infected person has previously been, since the virus can linger in the air for up to 2 hours after they've left, the CDC says. Sara Moniuszko , Jordan Freiman and Taylor Johnston contributed to this report.
