A positive case of measles was confirmed in a Howard County resident who recently traveled internationally, according to health officials.The Maryland Department of Health said this case is not associated with a measles outbreak in Texas and New Mexico.Out of an abundance of caution, health officials are trying to identify people who might have been exposed. State and county health officials are trying to get in touch with potentially exposed passengers on specific flights as follows.Washington Dulles International Airport: Terminal A, on transportation to the main terminal and in the baggage claim area on March 5 between 4-9 p.m. (this is updated from MDH since this report was first published)Johns Hopkins Howard County Medical Center Pediatric Emergency Department on March 7 between 3:30-7:30 p.m.Early symptoms of measles are a fever of more than 101 degrees Fahrenheit, runny nose, cough, and red, watery eyes. Usually, one to four days after the early symptoms, a red rash appears on the face and spreads to the rest of the body. Measles symptoms typically develop 10-14 days after exposure to the virus but can develop as soon as seven days and as long as 21 days after exposure. A person with measles is contagious, beginning four days before the rash appears until four days after the rash begins.MDH said 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.”The MMR, which is the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine, has been around since the 1960s. It’s a very safe vaccine, and it’s very effective. So typically, it’s given around 12 to 15 months. At my office, we usually do it at the one-year visit and then again, at around 4 years old, before they go to preschool, or they start kindergarten,” said Pediatrics Center LLC pediatrician and national officer for the American Academy of Pediatrics Maryland, Dr. Monique Soileau-Burke. “In circumstances where a child might be traveling out of the country or traveling to a high-risk area with a measles outbreak, then we can actually do it down as early as six months.””It is one of the most infectious diseases that we have. So, there’s a 90% secondary attack rate (for those) who are not fully immunized against measles,” said Dr. Lucia Donatelli, chief of the Center for Immunization with MDH. “There is a 90% chance that if you’re exposed, that you will contract measles. So that’s why it’s so important for everybody to be vaccinated against measles.”Donatelli added the MMR vaccine is 93% effective in preventing measles after the first dose and 97% effective after two doses. Those who are most at risk of complications from measles infection are pregnant women, infants less than 1 year old, and those who are immune compromised. People in these at risk groups who may have potentially been exposed and are not immune should contact their health care provider or call Howard County Health Department’s Infectious Disease Surveillance and Response Program at 410-313-6284 for additional guidance. Nurse practitioner for The Pediatrics LLC in Howard County, Bethany Fry, said she’s noticed some parents have some hesitancy when getting vaccinations for children. “I think in our practice, we could all say that we’re having more and more frequent and longer conversations with families about this, which is what we want to be doing. The primary issues that families have and that come to us with questions about, that they want to talk about, that they want reassurance for, is settled science,” Fry said. “The risks associated with vaccines are incredibly small, compared to the risks associated with the illnesses, we are trying to prevent with those vaccines.”Fry added that anyone who contracts measles may have long-term effects, including inflammation of the brain.”A newer complication of measles that’s come into the forefront in the past decade or so is something called immune amnesia. It’s an effect where the immune system, after having had the measles virus, no longer recognizes germs, bacteria, viruses that it had previously recognized and had previously built immune defenses for,” Fry said. “There’s still a lot that isn’t known about immune amnesia. It’s believed to last for several years. It’s something that requires more study and more science to be confident in how we can treat it and advise.”Both Fry and Burke said there is no current treatment for measles. Virginia residents with additional questions about their potential exposure can call the Virginia Department of Health at 804-363-2704 or email epi_response@vdh.virginia.gov.People, especially those not vaccinated or otherwise immune to measles, who were at any of these locations during the possible exposure times should monitor themselves for any early symptoms of measles for 21 days after the potential exposure. People who develop a fever or other symptoms of measles should not go to childcare, school, work, or out in public, and should contact their health care provider. They should call their health care provider first rather than showing up in the waiting room or emergency room so that the office can take measures to prevent spread to other patients.Measles cases do occur sporadically in Maryland with one case of measles identified in Maryland in 2024, one in 2023, and no cases from 2020-2022.This report will be updated.
A positive case of measles was confirmed in a Howard County resident who recently traveled internationally, according to health officials.
The Maryland Department of Health said this case is not associated with a measles outbreak in Texas and New Mexico.
Out of an abundance of caution, health officials are trying to identify people who might have been exposed. State and county health officials are trying to get in touch with potentially exposed passengers on specific flights as follows.
- Washington Dulles International Airport: Terminal A, on transportation to the main terminal and in the baggage claim area on March 5 between 4-9 p.m. (this is updated from MDH since this report was first published)
- Johns Hopkins Howard County Medical Center Pediatric Emergency Department on March 7 between 3:30-7:30 p.m.
Early symptoms of measles are a fever of more than 101 degrees Fahrenheit, runny nose, cough, and red, watery eyes. Usually, one to four days after the early symptoms, a red rash appears on the face and spreads to the rest of the body.
Measles symptoms typically develop 10-14 days after exposure to the virus but can develop as soon as seven days and as long as 21 days after exposure. A person with measles is contagious, beginning four days before the rash appears until four days after the rash begins.
MDH said 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.
“The MMR, which is the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine, has been around since the 1960s. It’s a very safe vaccine, and it’s very effective. So typically, it’s given around 12 to 15 months. At my office, we usually do it at the one-year visit and then again, at around 4 years old, before they go to preschool, or they start kindergarten,” said Pediatrics Center LLC pediatrician and national officer for the American Academy of Pediatrics Maryland, Dr. Monique Soileau-Burke. “In circumstances where a child might be traveling out of the country or traveling to a high-risk area with a measles outbreak, then we can actually do it down as early as six months.”
“It is one of the most infectious diseases that we have. So, there’s a 90% secondary attack rate (for those) who are not fully immunized against measles,” said Dr. Lucia Donatelli, chief of the Center for Immunization with MDH. “There is a 90% chance that if you’re exposed, that you will contract measles. So that’s why it’s so important for everybody to be vaccinated against measles.”
Donatelli added the MMR vaccine is 93% effective in preventing measles after the first dose and 97% effective after two doses.
Those who are most at risk of complications from measles infection are pregnant women, infants less than 1 year old, and those who are immune compromised. People in these at risk groups who may have potentially been exposed and are not immune should contact their health care provider or call Howard County Health Department’s Infectious Disease Surveillance and Response Program at 410-313-6284 for additional guidance.
Nurse practitioner for The Pediatrics LLC in Howard County, Bethany Fry, said she’s noticed some parents have some hesitancy when getting vaccinations for children.
“I think in our practice, we could all say that we’re having more and more frequent and longer conversations with families about this, which is what we want to be doing. The primary issues that families have and that come to us with questions about, that they want to talk about, that they want reassurance for, is settled science,” Fry said. “The risks associated with vaccines are incredibly small, compared to the risks associated with the illnesses, we are trying to prevent with those vaccines.”
Fry added that anyone who contracts measles may have long-term effects, including inflammation of the brain.
“A newer complication of measles that’s come into the forefront in the past decade or so is something called immune amnesia. It’s an effect where the immune system, after having had the measles virus, no longer recognizes germs, bacteria, viruses that it had previously recognized and had previously built immune defenses for,” Fry said. “There’s still a lot that isn’t known about immune amnesia. It’s believed to last for several years. It’s something that requires more study and more science to be confident in how we can treat it and advise.”
Both Fry and Burke said there is no current treatment for measles.
Virginia residents with additional questions about their potential exposure can call the Virginia Department of Health at 804-363-2704 or email epi_response@vdh.virginia.gov.
People, especially those not vaccinated or otherwise immune to measles, who were at any of these locations during the possible exposure times should monitor themselves for any early symptoms of measles for 21 days after the potential exposure. People who develop a fever or other symptoms of measles should not go to childcare, school, work, or out in public, and should contact their health care provider. They should call their health care provider first rather than showing up in the waiting room or emergency room so that the office can take measures to prevent spread to other patients.
Measles cases do occur sporadically in Maryland with one case of measles identified in Maryland in 2024, one in 2023, and no cases from 2020-2022.
This report will be updated.