Measles cases, possible exposures confirmed in Montgomery County – NBC4 Washington

A case of measles has been confirmed in a Montgomery County resident, and members of the public may have been exposed twice, health officials said.

This is the first confirmed case of measles in Maryland since 2019, the Montgomery County Health Department said in a statement Friday.

The infected person may have exposed the public to the disease twice, health officials said:

• At Cabin John Ice Rink in Bethesda on Wednesday, May 24 from 6-9 p.m.
• In a professional office building at 16220 Frederick Road in Gaithersburg on Tuesday, May 30 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

“People, especially those who are not vaccinated against measles, who were in any of these locations during possible exposure times should monitor themselves for any early symptoms of measles, especially fever,” says the press release.

Anyone who has been exposed and develops a fever should contact their healthcare provider. People with symptoms should refrain from babysitting, going to school, working or other public activities, according to health officials.

The first symptoms of measles are a fever over 101°F, runny nose, cough, and red, watery eyes.

“Usually one to four days after the first symptoms, a red rash appears on the face and spreads to the rest of the body. A person with measles is contagious from four days before the rash appears until four days after the rash begins,” officials said.

Pregnant people, children under the age of one and immunocompromised people are at increased risk of measles complications, officials said. People in these groups who may have been exposed in Montgomery County can contact their healthcare provider to discuss a medication called immunoglobulin, a preventative treatment option.

Measles was declared eradicated in the United States in 2000, meaning the virus is no longer “constantly present” in the country, but there are occasional travel-related cases and outbreaks, according to the Centers for Disaster Control and Prevention.

Five measles cases were identified in Maryland in 2019. Virginia officials warned of two possible exhibitions in Fairfax County last year.