According to reports in the Washington Post, a woman infected with measles, a contagious disease which can be dangerous to some patients, was present in the District and Maryland after flying into Dulles International Airport. The 27-year-old woman from New Mexico arrived at Dulles reportedly on February 20th and left our area on February 22nd, from Baltimore-Washington International Airport.
In between, she spent time in Georgetown and Columbia Heights. The D.C. Department of Health advises individuals exposed to measles to figure out whether they have they received two doses of measles vaccine. Those who cannot confirm that, and anyone showing symptoms should contact their health care providers. People with measles should stay home as long as advised by their doctor, which is usually until after the characteristic rash appears, because they can contaminate others. Other symptoms include fever, redness of the eye, and a cough. The woman was exposed to measles while in Europe.
For more information, click: Health Alert: Measles Exposure in the District of Columbia, DC Department of Health, News Release,