Evacuees From Afghanistan Have Measles; NoVA Health Notice Issued

DULLES, VA — After several travelers arriving to Northern Virginia from Afghanistan were diagnosed with measles, health departments are warning residents of potential measles exposure at several times and locations.

Five people arriving from Afghanistan in Virginia have been diagnosed with the measles and may have exposed people in the northern and central health regions. Northern Virginia's health department informed dates, times and locations of potential exposure "out of an abundance of caution." The risk to the community is considered low outside these locations and times.

The exposure notice concerns those who have never had a documented case of the measles, have never received a measles-containing vaccine or have only one of the two doses, according to Northern Virginia's health departments. Those who have two doses of a measles-containing vaccine (measles, mumps and rubella [MMR] vaccine or a measles only vaccine in other countries) are considered protected and do not need to take action.

Here are the times and locations of potential exposure in Northern Virginia:

Dulles International Airport: 1 Saarinen Circle Dulles, VA 20166: Sept. 3-4, 2021

• International Arrivals Building/U.S. Customs Hall: 6:30 p.m.-12 a.m.
• Main Terminal Ticketing Level: 9:30 p.m.-3 a.m.

Dulles International Airport: 1 Saarinen Circle Dulles, VA 20166: Sept. 8

• International Arrivals Building/U.S. Customs Hall: 4:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m.
• Main Terminal Ticketing Level: 8 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

StoneSprings Hospital Center: 24440 Stone Springs Boulevard, Dulles, VA 20166: Sept. 6, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sept. 8, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

• Emergency Department, including waiting area

Inova L.J. Murphy Children’s Hospital: 3300 Gallows Road, Falls Church, VA 22042: Sept. 7, 3p.m. to Sept. 8, 7:30 p.m.

• Floors 1-9

Inova Fairfax Hospital: 3300 Gallows Road, Falls Church, VA 22042: Sept. 10, 5:45 a.m. to 9:45 a.m.

• Pediatric and Adult Emergency Departments

Dulles Expo Center: 4320 Chantilly Shopping Center, Chantilly, VA 20151: Sept. 4-8

Crowne Plaza Dulles Airport: 2200 Centreville Rd, Herndon, VA 20170: Sept. 4-9

Reston Hospital Center: 1850 Town Center Parkway, Reston, VA 20190: Sept. 13, 8:27 p.m. to Sept. 14, 12:29 a.m.

• Emergency Department, including waiting area

The Richmond and Henrico Health Districts are also investigating a potential exposure of the measles at a Richmond area hospital on Sept. 10, and the Piedmont Health District is working to identify potential exposures at Fort Pickett in Nottoway County. The Virginia Department of Health is contacting those individuals who may have been exposed at those two locations.

According to health officials, measles is highly contagious and spread through coughing, sneezing, and contact with droplets from the nose, mouth or throat of an infected person. The first stage of symptoms usually involves a fever above 101 degrees, a runny nose, watery red eyes and a cough. The second stage begins around the third to seventh day when a rash appears on the face and spread over the entire body.

Health departments urge residents to keep their children up to date on childhood vaccinations. Measles is one of the preventable infections through the MMR vaccine. The dose is typically given at age 12 to 15 months and the second happens before kindergarten (ages 4 to 6).

Anyone who hasn't received a measles-containing vaccine or had a documented case of the measles should contact their local health department for advice. Those who experience symptoms should isolate from others and contact their primary health care provider or health department. If traveling to a doctor or emergency room, call ahead to inform them of the measles exposure.

Residents in the Fairfax Health District with questions about the measles investigation can contact the health department at 703-246-2411; those in Loudoun County can email Health@loudoun.gov.