Currently, there are ongoing measles outbreaks in the United States. The risk of measles remains low for most of the United States due to high immunization coverage and rapid case identification and response efforts. Measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccination is the best way to protect against measles and its complications.
Measles was declared eliminated in the United States in 2000. This was thanks to a very high percentage of people receiving the safe and effective measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine. In recent years, however:
- U.S. MMR coverage among kindergarteners is now below the 95% coverage target—much lower in some communities—and is decreasing.
- Global measles activity is increasing, meaning more chances of an unvaccinated person infected with measles abroad returning to the United States.
Measles can be severe. Since January 1, 2025, 11% of reported measles cases in the United States have been hospitalized.
Cases in Virginia
On April 19, 2025, the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) reported the state’s first measles case of the year. The patient is a child (0-4 years) in the Northwest Region who recently traveled internationally.
Listed below are the dates, times, and locations of potential exposure sites in Virginia:
- Kaiser Permanente Caton Hill Medical Center, Advanced Urgent Care, located at 13285 Minnieville Road in Woodbridge on Tuesday, April 15 from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
- Kaiser Permanente Fredericksburg Medical Center, Pediatrics Department, located at 1201 Hospital Drive in Fredericksburg on Wednesday, April 16 from noon to 5 p.m.
What should you do if you were at the above locations on the day and time specified?
- 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 immediately.
- 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 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 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.
Virginia residents with additional questions about their potential exposure can email epi_response@vdh.virginia.gov or contact your local health department.
To read the full press release, click here.
Measles General Information
Measles is a very contagious disease caused by a virus that lives in the nose and throat of an infected person. The virus is released when an infected person breathes or coughs. It spreads easily from person to person through the air or by direct contact with nose or throat discharges from someone who is infected.
But measles is easily preventable!
A safe and effective vaccine that prevents measles is given as part of the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine or the measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella (MMRV) vaccine series. Since measles-containing vaccines became available in the United States, the disease has become rare in this country. Two doses of the vaccine are given to provide lifetime protection.
You are considered immune and protected against measles if you have written documentation (records) showing at least one of the following:
- You received two doses of measles-containing vaccine, and you are a(n)
- School-aged child (grades K-12)
- Adult who will be in a setting that poses a high risk for measles transmission, including students at post-high school education institutions, healthcare personnel, and international travelers.
- You received one dose of measles-containing vaccine, and you are a(n)
- Preschool-aged child
- Adult who will not be in a setting that poses a high risk for measles transmission, including students at post-high school education institutions, healthcare personnel, and international travelers.
- A laboratory confirmed that you had measles at some point in your life.
- A laboratory confirmed that you are immune to measles.
- You were born before 1957.
If you’re unsure whether you’re immune to measles, you should first try to find your vaccination records or documentation of measles immunity. To check your immunization status, call your healthcare provider or request records from the VDH Immunization Record Request Form.
More information about measles is available: