Measles Scare At DC, PG County Hospitals Sends Authorities Scrambling

Health departments are investigating possible measles exposures at sites in Prince George's County and Washington, D.C., according to a statement from the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.

The move is being made "out of an abundance of caution," and will involve informing people who were at certain locations -- including areas of the Prince George's Hospital Center and Children's National Medical Center in Northwest D.C. -- about potential exposure to measles.

Anyone who was at Prince George's Hospital Center at specific times during May 9-13 and Children's National Medical Center at specific times between May and May 13 and 15 are at some level of elevated risk, although authorities emphasize the risk is low.

"While most individuals in the United States are vaccinated against measles, exposure to it poses potential risk to those who have not been vaccinated," the statement notes, adding that the risk was caused by a patient who fell ill. "The patient contracted measles outside of the United States; developed symptoms here in the country; and their diagnosis was confirmed Friday, May 19."

The patient visited the following locations:

• May 8 – The Dept. of Social Services Building at 6505 Belcrest Road, #100A, Hyattsville, Md. 20782.
• May 8 – The Social Security Administration building at 6110 Allentown Road, Suitland, Md. 20746, from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• May 9 – May 10 Prince George’s Hospital Center Emergency Department in Cheverly, Md., from 8 p.m. to May 10 at 2 a.m. The measles patient rode the #12 public transit bus to and from Prince George’s Hospital Center.
• May 11 – Prince George’s Hospital Center Emergency Department from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.
• May 12-May 13 – Prince George’s Hospital Center Emergency Department from 4:15 p.m. to May 13 at 10:47 a.m.
• May 13 – Children’s National Medical Center, 111 Michigan Avenue NW, Washington, D.C., 20010, main atrium lobby between 8:30a.m. and 11 a.m.

The patient has since been isolated and poses no further risk to the public.

"According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the measles virus is highly contagious to unvaccinated individuals and spreads through the air through coughing and sneezing," the statement reads. "The infection starts with fever, runny nose, cough, red eyes, and sore throat. About the third to seventh day following infection, a rash begins to appear on the face and spreads over the rest of the body. A person infected on May 15 could develop symptoms as late as June 5."

Image of Measles virus via the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention