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The confirmed case, reported in a Howard County resident, is not connected to the ongoing measles outbreak in Texas and New Mexico, officials said.
Health officials are now working to identify anyone who may have been exposed, including passengers on certain flights. Those who visited the following locations during the listed time frames may have been exposed:
- Washington Dulles International Airport (International Arrivals Area): March 5, between 4:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m.
- Johns Hopkins Howard County Medical Center Pediatric Emergency Department: March 7, between 3:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
People are generally considered immune to measles if they have had two measles vaccine shots, previously had measles or laboratory evidence of immunity or infection, or were born in the United States before 1957.
Measles symptoms typically appear 10 to 14 days after exposure but can develop in as little as seven days or as long as 21 days.
Early symptoms include a fever higher than 101 degrees, runny nose, cough, and red, watery eyes. Days later, a red rash usually appears on the face and spreads to the rest of the body.
Officials are urging anyone who was at the exposure locations to monitor themselves for symptoms for 21 days. Anyone who develops symptoms should avoid public places and contact a healthcare provider before visiting a doctor’s office or hospital to prevent potential spread.
Those most at risk for complications include pregnant women, infants under one year old, and individuals with weakened immune systems.
Anyone in these groups who may have been exposed and is not immune should contact their healthcare provider or the Howard County Health Department’s Infectious Disease Surveillance and Response Program at 410-313-6284.
Virginia residents with concerns about exposure can contact the Virginia Department of Health at (804) 363-2704 or email epi_response@vdh.virginia.gov.
Measles cases are rare in Maryland, with only one case reported in 2024 and one in 2023. There were no reported cases from 2020 to 2022, according to officials.
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