Maryland health officials track contacts after resident diagnosed with rare measles case

DULLES, Va. (7News) — A Howard County, Maryland, resident has a confirmed case of measles, and now the Maryland Department of Health is working to trace their contact with others.

This measles case is not believed to be associated with an outbreak in Texas, and New Mexico. This resident travelled internationally and flew into Dulles International Airport last week.

A measles outbreak is very rare— these many cases at once are almost unprecedented. Out of an abundance of caution, health officials are trying to identify people who might have been exposed at Dulles.

Right off the bat, if you’ve been vaccinated, you do not need to worry.

READ MORE | Maryland officials confirm measles case, warn of exposure at Washington Dulles Airport

If you were bornbefore 1957, you were more than likely already infected so you’re in the clear. It was almost a rite of passage for kids back then. For those who just aren’t sure if they have been vaccinated, if you attended public schools or did military service, more than likely, you are. For those who aren’t vaccinated, this could be harmful and dangerous.

Early symptoms of measles are a fever of more than 101 degrees Fahrenheit, runny nose, cough, conjunctivitis, and red eyes. Interestingly enough, one of the last symptoms days later is a red rash that spreads all over the body, heavier on the head and trunk. A person with measles is contagious four days before a rash appears and must isolate at least four days after the rash appears.

“You know it used to be very widespread in the U.S., for most children it was a rite of passage. You grew up, everybody had measles and most people did fine, but not everybody. People ended up in the hospital, somehow had pneumonia, some had brain infections with permanent consequences and 400 to 500 died each year. So if that’s preventable by a shot, you know to go for the shot,” Dr. Glenn Wortmann, Section Director of Infectious Diseases at MedStar Washington Hospital Center.

Symptoms typically develop 10 to 14 days after exposure to the virus but can develop sooner.

Even though there is a certain percentage of people who are not vaccinated, most people are, so this should not spread widely the way COVID-19 did. If you can’t make it to your doctor’s office, places like CVS and Walgreens provide free shots.