Measles exposure at Cabin John rink in Bethesda: health officials

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Maryland (7News) — Montgomery County health officials confirmed a case of measles in a resident on Friday.

Officials stated in a press release the resident visited the Cabin John Ice Rink in Bethesda, Maryland on Wednesday, May 24 between 6 and 9 p.m. The resident was also at a professional office building at 16220 Frederick Road in Gaithersburg, Maryland on Tuesday, May 30, between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.

SEE ALSO | More and more parents oppose vaccine requirements for children

Health officials said anyone concerned they may have been exposed to measles, or who may have a measles infection, should call their doctor’s office for instructions before getting evaluated. Potentially exposed people can also call the Montgomery County Health and Human Services Office of Disease Control at 240-777-1755 to determine their risk for measles.

Five confirmed measles cases were reported in Maryland in 2019, and no measles cases have been reported since then, officials say.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), measles spreads through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes. The virus can stay in the air for up to two hours.

Measles symptoms appear 7 to 14 days after contact with the virus and typically include high fever, cough, runny nose and watery eyes, according to the CDC. The measles rash appears 3 to 5 days after the first symptoms.

According to the CDC, measles can be prevented with the MMR vaccine. The vaccine protects against three diseases: measles, mumps and rubella.

To learn more about measles, click here.