Alexandria Health Department warns of potential measles exposure in Northern Virginia

The Alexandria Health Department (AHD) and the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) are warning residents about potential exposures to measles in Northern Virginia.

According to AHD, VDH has been notified of a confirmed case of measles in an individual. Health officials are coordinating an effort to identify people who might have been exposed.

Listed below are the dates, times, and locations of potential exposure sites in Virginia:

• Dulles International Airport (IAD) on Sunday, June 8:
  • Concourse A, on transportation to the International Arrivals Building (IAB), and in the baggage claim area between 10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m.
• Washington Area Metro on Sunday, June 8:
  • Silver Line Train from Dulles International Airport station transferring at the Metro Center Station to the Red Line Train heading towards Shady Grove Station between 11:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m

Any additional exposure sites identified in Virginia will be posted to the VDH Measles website. Additional exposure sites have been identified in Maryland and Washington, DC.

All people who may have been exposed should review the news release for recommended actions. Actions are summarized below:

• If you have received two doses of a measles-containing vaccine, or were born before 1957, you are protected and do not need to take any action.
• If you have never received a measles containing vaccine (either the measles, mumps and rubella [MMR] vaccine or a measles-only vaccine which is available in other countries), you may be at risk of developing measles. Anyone who might have been exposed and is considered to be at risk of developing measles should contact their healthcare provider or Alexandria Health Department 703.746.4988 immediately. Non-immune individuals may qualify for post-exposure treatments.
• Watch for symptoms for 21 days after the date of your potential exposure. If you notice symptoms of measles, immediately isolate yourself by staying home. Contact your healthcare provider right away. If you need to seek healthcare, call ahead before going to your healthcare provider’s office or the emergency room to notify them that you may have been exposed to measles and ask them to call the local health department. This call will help protect other patients and staff.
• Anyone with an immunocompromising condition should consult with their healthcare provider if they have questions or develop symptoms.
• If you have received only one dose of a measles-containing vaccine, you are very likely to be protected and your risk of being infected with measles from any of these exposures is very low. However, to achieve the highest level of protection, contact your healthcare provider about getting a second vaccine dose

With three reported measles cases in Virginia to date in 2025, AHD is encouraging all Alexandrians to ensure they’ve received the recommended immunizations to protect themselves and their family members against the measles virus.

If needed, AHD advises residents to book immunizations through their healthcare providers, pharmacies, or AHD’s immunization clinic. Visit vdh.virginia.gov/Immunization for more information on recommended vaccines and instructions on how to obtain them.

More information about measles, symptoms, and vaccination is available on the VDH measles website.