RESTON, VA — Virginia health officials are investigating potential measles exposures at four businesses in Reston after an infected person traveled through the area while contagious.
The confirmed case involves a resident of another state who visited the businesses Sunday, Aug. 16, according to the Virginia Department of Health. Officials did not release additional information about the person, citing patient privacy.
Health officials are working to identify and notify people who may have been exposed. The potential exposure locations were:
Anyone who was at one of the locations should complete Fairfax County's potential measles exposure survey. Public health officials will contact respondents if additional action is recommended.
VDH said most Virginia residents are protected from measles through vaccination, making the risk to the general public low. People who received two doses of a measles-containing vaccine or were born before 1957 are considered protected and do not need post-exposure treatment at this time.
People can check their vaccination status by contacting their health care provider or requesting records through the VDH Record Request Portal.
Anyone who is not fully vaccinated or otherwise immune should promptly contact a health care provider or local health department. People potentially exposed Aug. 16 should monitor themselves for symptoms for 21 days, with illness most likely to develop between Aug. 23 and Sept. 6.
Measles symptoms generally begin with a fever higher than 101 degrees, runny nose, watery red eyes and a cough. Those symptoms typically appear seven to 14 days after exposure. A rash usually begins on the face three to five days after the first symptoms and then spreads to the rest of the body.
Anyone who develops symptoms should immediately isolate at home and contact a health care provider. Patients should call before visiting a doctor's office or emergency room and explain that they may have been exposed to measles so precautions can be taken to protect other patients and staff.
Measles is a highly contagious disease that spreads through the air when an infected person breathes, coughs or sneezes. An infected person can spread measles from four days before a rash appears through four days afterward.
Two doses of the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine provide lifetime protection, according to VDH. About 95 percent of Virginia kindergarten students are fully vaccinated against measles.
Infants who are too young to receive routine vaccinations and people who are unvaccinated face a higher risk of developing measles after an exposure. Health officials recommend that infants ages 6 months through 11 months receive one MMR dose before traveling internationally or visiting an outbreak area.
Virginia has reported 179 measles cases in 2026, according to VDH. Additional exposure locations, if identified, will be posted on the department's measles information website.
People with questions may contact their local health department or email epi_response@vdh.virginia.gov.
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