Howard County Resident Tests Positive for Measles After International Travel

COLLEGE PARK, Md. — A resident of Howard County has tested positive for measles following international travel, prompting health officials to warn about potential exposure at Dulles International Airport and a local hospital emergency department.

The Maryland and Virginia Departments of Health, along with Howard County health officials, are tracing individuals who may have encountered the virus, focusing on passengers who were present on specific flights. People who visited the international area of Terminal A at Dulles between 4 p.m. and 9 p.m. on March 5, and those at the Johns Hopkins Howard County Medical Center Pediatric Emergency Department on March 7 from 3:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., are advised to monitor for symptoms.

“If you have not received the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine or another measles vaccine, you may be at risk,” the Virginia Department of Health stated in a release. Individuals who suspect they were exposed should consult their healthcare provider for advice and may also contact the Howard County Health Department’s Infectious Disease Surveillance and Response Program at 410-313-6284 or the Virginia Department of Health at 804-363-2704.

Health officials emphasize that measles is highly contagious, with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention noting that up to 90% of people in close contact with an infected individual can contract the virus if they are not immunized.

Symptoms of measles typically manifest 10 to 14 days post-exposure and include a fever exceeding 101°F, a runny nose, cough, and red, watery eyes. A characteristic red rash appears one to four days later, usually starting on the face before spreading across the body. The contagious period for measles begins four days before the rash appears and lasts until four days after.

David Smith, a spokesperson for the Maryland Department of Health, stated, “We are taking all necessary steps to protect the community and identify those who may have been at risk.”

Individuals considered immune to measles typically have received two doses of the vaccine, previously contracted measles, or were born in the U.S. before 1957. Pregnant women, infants under one year old, and those with compromised immune systems are particularly vulnerable to complications from the disease.

Measles cases are uncommon in Maryland, with only one case recorded in each of the previous two years. However, health officials note that instances can occur sporadically, mostly among travelers returning from areas where measles is prevalent.