Health officials seek people who might have been exposed to measles

Local public health officials are trying to identify people who might have come into contact with an adult who had measles and could have been exposed to the disease when the victim was contagious between May 10 and May 16, the Fairfax County Health Department reports.

The person with measles was at various locations in Fairfax County and Washington, D.C., during that period including various places at Inova Fairfax Medical Campus on Gallows Road on May 12, 15, and 16 and Woodburn Medical Park, building #2, 3289 Woodburn Road in Annandale, 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. on May 15.

The measles victim, who has recently traveled abroad, has been discharged from Fairfax Hospital and is no longer considered contagious. 

People who were at the locations in Fairfax County listed by the Health Department should call 703-267-3511. Those who might have been exposed to the measles virus in Washington, D.C., should call 202-420-0199. 

Preventative treatment may be recommended for those who were exposed, had not been vaccinated, and are at high risk, including pregnant women, infants under 12 months, and people with severely compromised immune systems.  

Symptoms of measles usually appear within seven to 21 days after exposure and can include fever above 101 degrees, runny nose, watery red eyes and cough, followed by a blotchy rash that appears on the face and spreads to the rest of the body. The disease is most severe in infants and adults. People who have received at least one dose of measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine in the past are at very low risk of being infected with measles.