Third measles case reported in Northern Virginia in 2026

*A child with measles was treated at the Inova Fairfax Hospital on Gallows Road.*

There has been a third measles case in Northern Virginia so far in 2026.

The patient is a preschool-age child (0-4 years old) who recently traveled internationally, the Virginia Department of Health reported on Jan. 21.

People who have been at these locations might have been exposed to the child with measles:

PM Pediatric Urgent Care, 2690 Prince William Parkway, Woodbridge – Jan. 13, 4-7:30 p.m.
Inova Children’s Emergency Department, 3300 Gallows Road, Falls Church – Jan. 15, 7:30-10 p.m., and Jan. 16, 8:30-11 p.m.
Inova Fairfax Hospital Women’s and Children’s Building, Floors 2-10, 3300 Gallows Road – Jan. 17, 2:30 a.m. to Jan. 18, 5 p.m.

This case is unrelated to another recent measles case in Northern Virginia involving a preschool-age child reported on Jan. 11.

Measles is a highly contagious illness that can spread easily through the air when an infected person breathes, coughs, or sneezes. Measles can cause complications that could lead to hospitalization and even death.

Most people in Virginia have immunity to measles through vaccination, so the risk to the general public is low.

However, the Virginia Department of Health urges anyone who was at the potential exposure sites at the times listed to check if they are up to date with the recommended number of measles (MMR) vaccinations. To check your immunization status, call your healthcare provider or request records through the VDH Record Request Portal.

If you have received two doses of a measles-containing vaccine or were born before 1957, you are considered protected and do not need to seek post-exposure treatment at this time.

The VDH urges anyone who is not fully vaccinated or otherwise immune to:

Contact your healthcare provider or the Fairfax County Health Department. People who are not immune to measles may qualify for post-exposure treatments. There is a small timeframe for these treatments to be effective.

Watch for symptoms of measles for 21 days after the potential exposure. Monitoring for symptoms is especially important for people who are not fully vaccinated or otherwise immune to measles.

If you notice symptoms of measles, immediately isolate yourself by staying home. Contact your healthcare provider right away. Call ahead so they can take precautions to protect other patients and staff. The most likely time you would become sick would be between Jan. 20 and Feb. 8.

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 seven to 14 days after exposure.

The second stage starts three to five days after symptoms start, when a rash begins to appear on the face and spreads to the rest of the body. People with measles are contagious from four days before the rash appears through four days after the rash appears.

Approximately 95 percent of kindergarteners in Virginia are fully vaccinated, according to the VDH. However, infants who are too young to get the measles vaccination and others who are not vaccinated are at high risk of developing the disease if they are exposed.

Infants six months through 11 months of age who will be traveling internationally or to an outbreak setting in the U.S. should receive one dose of MMR vaccine prior to travel.

There were 2,242 measles cases and three deaths in the U.S. in 2025 and 171 cases in 2026.