Health officials have warned that travelers to Dulles and Ronald Reagan airports may have been exposed to the measles after an individual with a “confirmed case” of the virus traveled through both en route home from an international trip.
“DC Health has been notified of a confirmed case of measles in a person who traveled through DC area airports when returning from international travel,” the agency said in a statement. “While the threat of transmission is low, DC Health is notifying District residents who were at these locations about their possible exposure.”
The potential exposure occurred in the international arrivals area of Dulles Airport’s main terminal between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. on Wednesday, January 3rd, and at Reagan Airport’s Terminal A on January 4th between 2.30 p.m. and 6.30 p.m.
The warning from DC Health followed a similar warning issued by Virginia days earlier. “Measles is a highly contagious illness that can spread easily through the air when an infected person breathes, coughs, or sneezes. Measles symptoms usually appear in two stages. In the first stage, most people have a fever of greater than 101 degrees, runny nose, watery red eyes, and a cough. These symptoms usually start 7 to 14 days after being exposed,” the statement from the Virginia Department of Health said.
Authorities have not disclosed on which airline the infected individual was traveling. Doctors have warned that the ongoing border crisis poses a significant health concern as migrants threaten to spread diseases once rare in the U.S.
