A preschool-age child has been diagnosed with measles, and health officials are working to track exposure in three states and Washington, D.C.
Two early sites include Fort Belvoir and passengers on an Amtrak Northeast Regional train.
The patient recently travelled internationally, according to the Virginia Department of Health.
This is the second case of measles reported in Virginia this year. Most people in Virginia have immunity to measles through vaccination, so the risk to the general public is low.
Health officials are working to identify individuals who may have been exposed in Pennsylvania, Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia.
Possible exposure sites include:
- Jan. 7: Amtrak Northeast Regional Train 175, from William H. Gray III 30th Street Station in Philadelphia at 9 p.m. to Washington Union Station at 11:30 p.m.
- Jan. 9: Alexander T. Augusta Military Medical Center Emergency Department and Executive Medicine Suite, 9300 DeWitt Loop, Fort Belvoir, Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 10 p.m. to midnight.
Any additional exposure sites identified in Virginia will be posted to the VDH measles website.
2025: Highest measles rate in three decades
The U.S. had previously declared measles eliminated in 2000; 2025 has the most recorded cases since this time and the most cases in more than 30 years.
With the anti-vaccine push by the Donald Trump administration, including Robert F. Kennedy Jr., cases continue to rise, something that experts say should warrant a national health emergency.
Jan. 20 will mark 12 consecutive months of transmission, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In 2025, there were 2,144 confirmed cases of the measles in the U.S.
Related stories
- Measles exposure possible in Virginia, North Carolina, health officials warn
- Department of Health: Confirmed case of measles for passenger at Dulles airport
- Another measles case at Dulles: What you need to do if you were exposed
- Department of Health: International travelers, Metro users possibly exposed to measles
- Charlottesville child tests positive for measles, likely linked to second case
Support AFP
Share
Crystal Graham
