Tag: measles

Beat the Back-To-School Rush: Get Your Child Immunized over Spring Break!

March 27, 2026 

Media Contact: Kristy Fowler, Kristy.fowler@vdh.virginia.gov 

 

Beat the Back-To-School Rush: Get Your Child Immunized over Spring Break!
Chesterfield Health District Holding Vaccination Clinics 

CHESTERFIELD, Va. – Setting your kids up for success this school year means making sure they have all the tools they need, including vaccines to protect against preventable diseases such as meningitis, measles, pertussis (whooping cough) and others.  

Chesterfield Health District will offer state-required immunizations during special Spring Break vaccination clinics: 

  • Chesterfield: March 31, April 1 and April 2 by appointment only during regular clinic hours. Call 804-748-1750. 
  • Powhatan: March 30 and 31 by appointment only during regular clinic hours. Call 804-598-5680. 

Please be sure to bring a copy of your child’s vaccination record. If you don’t have it, you can request the record here. If you have health insurance, please also bring your insurance card. 

The Commonwealth of Virginia requires immunizations for entry into kindergarten, seventh grade, and 12th grade. Students who do not get their immunizations will not be admitted to school. Keeping children up to date on vaccinations can reduce severe illnesses and unnecessary absences from school and work, saving your family time and money.  

The evidence shows vaccines are your child’s best defense against infectious disease, like Measles. The highly contagious disease that was declared eliminated in the year 2000 is experiencing a surge in the U.S. with more than 1,280 cases reported so far this year. This includes 14 cases in Virginia, nearly three times as many cases in all of 2025. 

“Vaccines teach your body how to create an immune response,” said LaWanda Dunn, nurse manager at the Chesterfield Health District. “When exposed to the disease, it has the defenses necessary to fight the illness.” 

The Virginia Department of Health (VDH) encourages parents to talk with their child’s health care provider about recommended vaccinations. Vaccines are available through your pediatrician, pharmacies, and all local health departments. You will want to check in advance to see if appointments may be necessary.   

Children who are uninsured can still be vaccinated at low or no cost through the Virginia Vaccines for Children (VVFC) program which offers free vaccines to eligible children. You can Locate A VVFC Provider by simply entering your zip code on the VDH website. 

VDH encourages parents to make an appointment as soon as possible to save the stress of trying to find one last minute. As the school year draws near, appointments will no longer be available. For more information, please contact Chesterfield Health District at ChesterfieldVa.health. 

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RHHD Encourages Parents and Guardians to Schedule Primary Care Appointments for Children Before Summer

March 19, 2026
Media Contact: Bryan Hooten, 804-807-1727, bryan.hooten@vdh.virginia.gov

RHHD Encourages Parents and Guardians to Schedule Primary Care Appointments for Children Before Summer

 RICHMOND, Va. — The Richmond and Henrico Health Districts (RHHD) encourage families to schedule a wellness visit for children with their primary care provider before the summer months. These visits allow children to receive school-required immunizations and physicals before summer travel and activities.

Vaccines provide essential protection against serious diseases that can affect children. As of March 19, 2026, Virginia Department of Health (VDH) has already reported 14 cases of measles. VDH reported five cases of measles in all of 2025. 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.

Families can schedule appointments with a primary care physician or one of RHHD’s community partners. RHHD provides resources for families on Medicaid, Medicare, or who are uninsured at rhhd.gov/connect-pc. Please visit RHHD’s School Health Hub, Richmond Public Schools, or Henrico County Public Schools for more information.

“Spring is a great time for your child to see their primary care provider for a wellness visit,” said Richmond and Henrico Health Districts Director Elaine Perry, M.D. “A primary care provider will make sure your child gets the immunizations and physicals they need for school and sports. Taking care of these important visits now means kids will have more time for summer fun and will be ready for school in the fall.”

School-Required Immunizations

The Code of Virginia requires children entering daycare, public and private schools to give proof of vaccination before enrollment. The Code of Virginia also requires specific vaccinations for rising seventh and 12th graders. According to data from VDH, vaccination rates for Richmond City and Henrico County 13-year-olds are lower than Virginia statewide rates for the following vaccines:

  • meningococcal ACWY (MenACWY),
  • human papillomavirus (HPV)
  • tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (Tdap)

The Virginia childhood vaccine schedule aligns with the schedules of the American Academy of Pediatrics (APP) and the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP). All vaccines on these schedules are covered by Medicaid and private health insurance.

The Virginia Vaccines for Children Program (VVFC) provides free or low-cost vaccines for uninsured, underinsured, and Medicaid-enrolled children. Families can search for a nearby VFC at rhhd.gov/vfc.

Families with private insurance may schedule appointments with their primary care physician, a local pharmacy, or one of RHHD’s community partners. Families can learn more by visiting rhhd.gov/childhoodvax-partners.

Families without insurance or who are enrolled in Medicaid can schedule appointments at an RHHD clinic by calling 804-205-3500 and can find more information at rhhd.gov/childhoodvax. Students must bring a guardian, a copy of immunization records, and an insurance card if they have one.

School Physicals

The Code of Virginia requires children to have a school physical before starting public kindergarten or enrolling in elementary school for the first time. During a physical, a doctor can:

  • Identify potential health issues that could impact kids’ learning
  • Ensure kids have the immunizations they need
  • Promote healthy habits

Visit rhhd.gov for more health and safety information. Follow RHHD on Instagram (@richmondcity_hd) and Facebook.

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Virginia Health Officials Investigating a Potential Measles Exposure in Southwest Region

March 4, 2026
Media Contact: Linda Scarborough, Linda.Scarborough@vdh.virginia.gov

Virginia Health Officials Investigating a Potential
Measles Exposure in Southwest Region
Virginia Department of Health is Working to Identify People Who Are at Risk

RICHMOND, Va. – The Virginia Department of Health was notified of a confirmed case of measles that traveled through the Southwest Region on Monday, March 2. The person is a resident of another state who recently traveled internationally. To protect the patient’s privacy, VDH will not provide any additional information about the patient. Health officials are coordinating an effort to identify people who might have been exposed.

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

  • Centra Lynchburg General Hospital Emergency Department located at 1901 Tate Springs Road in Lynchburg from 10:15 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. Monday, March 2.

Any additional exposure sites identified in Virginia will be posted to the VDH Measles website.

What to Do If You Have Been Exposed to Measles

Most people in Virginia have immunity to measles through vaccination, so the risk to the general public is low. However, anyone who was at the potential exposure sites at the times listed should:

  • Report your exposure to VDH by completing this short survey. Public health officials will follow up with respondents if additional actions are needed.
  • Find out if you have been vaccinated for measles or have had measles previously. Make sure you are up to date with the recommended number of measles (MMR) vaccinations.
    • To check your immunization status, call your healthcare provider or request records through the VDH Record Request Portal.
    • If you have received two doses of a measles-containing vaccine, or were born before 1957, you are considered protected and do not need to seek post-exposure treatment at this time.
  • People who are not fully vaccinated or otherwise immune to measles should contact their healthcare provider or call their local health department People who are not immune to measles may qualify for post-exposure treatments. There is a small timeframe for these protective post-exposure treatments to be effective.
  • Watch for symptoms of measles for 21 days after the potential exposure. Monitoring for symptoms is especially important for people who are not fully vaccinated or otherwise immune to measles.
    • 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.
    • The most likely time you would become sick would be between March 9 and March 23.
    • Contact your local health department or email epi_response@vdh.virginia.gov to discuss any additional recommendations.

General Measles Information

Measles is a highly contagious illness that can spread easily through the air when an infected person breathes, coughs, or sneezes. Measles symptoms usually appear in two stages. In the first stage, most people have a fever of greater than 101 degrees, runny nose, watery red eyes, and a cough. These symptoms usually start seven to 14 days after being exposed. The second stage starts three to five days after symptoms start, when a rash begins to appear on the face and spreads to the rest of the body. People with measles are contagious from four days before the rash appears through four days after the rash appeared.

Measles is preventable through a safe and effective MMR vaccine. Two doses of the vaccine are given to provide lifetime protection. Virginia has high measles vaccination rates, with approximately 95% of kindergarteners fully vaccinated against measles. However, infants who are too young to be vaccinated, and others who are not vaccinated, are at high risk of developing measles if they are exposed. Infants six months through 11 months of age who will be traveling internationally, or to an outbreak setting, should receive one dose of MMR vaccine prior to travel. Talk to your healthcare provider if you have questions about the MMR vaccine.

To date in 2026, Virginia has reported 10 cases of measles. For more information about measles visit www.vdh.virginia.gov/measles/.

Virginia Health Officials Investigating Two Confirmed Measles Cases in Northern Virginia

February 19, 2026
Media Contact: Brookie Crawford, brookie.crawford@vdh.virginia.gov

Virginia Health Officials Investigating Two Confirmed Measles Cases in Northern Virginia
Virginia Department of Health is Working to Identify People Who Are at Risk

RICHMOND, Va. – The Virginia Department of Health is reporting two confirmed cases of measles in residents of Northern Virginia. The patients are adults who recently traveled together domestically. To protect the patients’ privacy, VDH will not provide any additional information about the patients. Health officials are coordinating an effort to identify people who might have been exposed.

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

  • Harris Teeter, located at 10060 Market Circle in Manassas, between 5 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Friday, February 13
  • Walmart, located at 9401 Liberia Avenue in Manassas, between 5:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. Friday, February 13
  • Marco’s Pizza, located at 9223 Sudley Road in Manassas, between 6 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. Friday, February 13
  • Bull Run Unitarian Universalists, located at 9350 Main Street in Manassas, between 7:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. Saturday, February 14
  • Best Buy Outlet, located at 7665 Sudley Road in Manassas, between 2 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. Saturday, February 14
  • Mountaintop Church, located at 9213 Center Street in Manassas
    • Saturday, February 14 between 4:30 p.m. and 11:59 p.m.
    • Sunday, February 15 between 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
  • Lidl, located at 9795 Liberia Avenue in Manassas, between 2 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. Sunday, February 15
  • Target, located at 9900 Sowder Village Square in Manassas, between 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday, February 15
  • Medical Center, located at 7051 Heathcote Village Way in Gainesville, between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. Monday, February 16
  • Office Building, located at 2800 Eisenhower Avenue in Alexandria, between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Tuesday, February 17

To date in 2026, Virginia has 10 reported cases of measles. Any additional exposure sites identified in Virginia will be posted to the VDH Measles website.

What to Do If You Have Been Exposed to Measles

Most people in Virginia have immunity to measles through vaccination, so the risk to the general public is low. However, anyone who was at the potential exposure sites at the times listed should:

  • Report your exposure to VDH by completing this short survey. Public health officials will follow up with respondents if additional actions are needed.
  • Find out if you have been vaccinated for measles or have had measles previously. Make sure you are up to date with the recommended number of measles (MMR) vaccinations.
    • To check your immunization status, call your healthcare provider or request records through the VDH Record Request Portal.
    • If you have received two doses of a measles-containing vaccine, or were born before 1957, you are considered protected and do not need to seek post-exposure treatment at this time.
  • People who are not fully vaccinated or otherwise immune to measles should contact their healthcare provider or call their local health department People who are not immune to measles may qualify for post-exposure treatments. There is a small timeframe for these protective post-exposure treatments to be effective.
  • Watch for symptoms of measles for 21 days after the potential exposure. Monitoring for symptoms is especially important for people who are not fully vaccinated or otherwise immune to measles.
    • 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.
    • The most likely time you would become sick would be between February 18 and March 10.
    • Contact your local health department or email epi_response@vdh.virginia.gov to discuss any additional recommendations.

General Measles Information

Measles is a highly contagious illness that can spread easily through the air when an infected person breathes, coughs, or sneezes. Measles symptoms usually appear in two stages. In the first stage, most people have a fever of greater than 101 degrees, runny nose, watery red eyes, and a cough. These symptoms usually start seven to 14 days after being exposed. The second stage starts three to five days after symptoms start, when a rash begins to appear on the face and spreads to the rest of the body. People with measles are contagious from four days before the rash appears through four days after the rash appeared.

Measles is preventable through a safe and effective MMR vaccine. Two doses of the vaccine are given to provide lifetime protection. Virginia has high measles vaccination rates, with approximately 95% of kindergarteners fully vaccinated against measles. However, infants who are too young to be vaccinated, and others who are not vaccinated, are at high risk of developing measles if they are exposed. Infants six months through 11 months of age who will be traveling internationally, or to an outbreak setting, should receive one dose of MMR vaccine prior to travel. Talk to your healthcare provider if you have questions about the MMR vaccine.

For more information about measles visit www.vdh.virginia.gov/measles/.

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Virginia Health Officials Investigating Confirmed Measles Case in Northern Region

February 16, 2026
Media Contact: Brookie Crawford, brookie.crawford@vdh.virginia.gov

Virginia Health Officials Investigating Confirmed Measles Case in Northern Region
Virginia Department of Health is Working to Identify People Who Are at Risk

RICHMOND, Va. – The Virginia Department of Health is reporting a confirmed case of measles in a resident of Northern Virginia. The patient is an adult who recently traveled internationally. To protect the patient’s privacy, VDH will not provide any additional information about the patient. Health officials are coordinating an effort to identify people who might have been exposed.

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

  • Giant Food, located at 8941 Ox Road in Lorton, between 3:30 p.m. and 5:45 p.m. Wednesday, February 11.
  • Inova-GoHealth Urgent Care – Lorton Marketplace, located at 9427 Lorton Market St. in Lorton, between 9:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Friday, February 13.
  • Inova HealthPlex Lorton Emergency Room, located at 9321 Sanger St. in Lorton, between 10 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Saturday February 14.

To date in 2026, Virginia has eight reported cases of measles. Any additional exposure sites identified in Virginia will be posted to the VDH Measles website.

What to Do If You Have Been Exposed to Measles

Most people in Virginia have immunity to measles through vaccination, so the risk to the general public is low. However, anyone who was at the potential exposure sites at the times listed should:

  • Report your exposure to VDH by completing this short survey. Public health officials will follow up with respondents if additional actions are needed.
  • Find out if you have been vaccinated for measles or have had measles previously. Make sure you are up to date with the recommended number of measles (MMR) vaccinations.
    • To check your immunization status, call your healthcare provider or request records through the VDH Record Request Portal.
    • If you have received two doses of a measles-containing vaccine, or were born before 1957, you are considered protected and do not need to seek post-exposure treatment at this time.
  • People who are not fully vaccinated or otherwise immune to measles should contact their healthcare provider or call their local health department immediately to discuss any questions they might have. People who are not immune to measles may qualify for post-exposure treatments. There is a small timeframe for these protective post-exposure treatments to be effective.
  • Watch for symptoms of measles for 21 days after the potential exposure. Monitoring for symptoms is especially important for people who are not fully vaccinated or otherwise immune to measles.
    • 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.
    • The most likely time you would become sick would be between February 18 and March 7.
    • Contact your local health department or email epi_response@vdh.virginia.gov to discuss any additional recommendations.

General Measles Information

Measles is a highly contagious illness that can spread easily through the air when an infected person breathes, coughs, or sneezes. Measles symptoms usually appear in two stages. In the first stage, most people have a fever of greater than 101 degrees, runny nose, watery red eyes, and a cough. These symptoms usually start seven to 14 days after being exposed. The second stage starts three to five days after symptoms start, when a rash begins to appear on the face and spreads to the rest of the body. People with measles are contagious from four days before the rash appears through four days after the rash appeared.

Measles is preventable through a safe and effective MMR vaccine. Two doses of the vaccine are given to provide lifetime protection. Virginia has high measles vaccination rates, with approximately 95% of kindergarteners fully vaccinated against measles. However, infants who are too young to be vaccinated, and others who are not vaccinated, are at high risk of developing measles if they are exposed. Infants six months through 11 months of age who will be traveling internationally, or to an outbreak setting, should receive one dose of MMR vaccine prior to travel. Talk to your healthcare provider if you have questions about the MMR vaccine.

For more information about measles visit www.vdh.virginia.gov/measles/.

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Virginia Health Officials Investigating a Confirmed Measles Case and an Exposure in Northern Region

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – February 6, 2026
Media Contact: Brookie Crawford, brookie.crawford@vdh.virginia.gov

Virginia Health Officials Investigating a Confirmed Measles Case and an Exposure in Northern Region
Virginia Department of Health is Working to Identify People Who Are at Risk

RICHMOND, Va. – The Virginia Department of Health (VDH) is reporting a confirmed case of measles in a resident of the Northern Region. The patient is a pre-school age child (0-4 years). Additionally, VDH was notified of a confirmed case of measles that is a resident of another state and traveled through Ronald Regan Washington National airport on January 26. To protect the patients’ privacy, VDH will not provide any additional information about the patients. Health officials are coordinating an effort to identify people who might have been exposed.

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

  • Heathcote Health Center, located at 15195 Heathcote Blvd. in Haymarket between 1:15 p.m. and 4:15 p.m. Thursday, January 29.
  • Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Terminal 2, located at 2401 Smith Blvd, Arlington between 12:30 pm and 10:30 pm Monday, January 26.
  • Washington Area Metro on Monday, January 26:
    • Red Line Train from Brookland – CUA station transferring at the Gallery Place – Chinatown station to the Yellow Line Train heading towards the Huntington Station between 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m.
    • Yellow Line Train from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport station transferring at the Gallery Place – Chinatown station to the Red Line Train heading towards the Glenmont station between 8:30 p.m. and 11:30 p.m.

To date in 2026, Virginia has reported six cases of measles. Any additional exposure sites identified in Virginia will be posted to the VDH Measles website. Additional exposure sites have been identified in Washington, D.C.

What to Do If You Have Been Exposed to Measles

Most people in Virginia have immunity to measles through vaccination, so the risk to the general public is low. However, anyone who was at the potential exposure sites at the times listed should:

  • Report your exposure to VDH by completing this short survey. Public health officials will follow up with respondents if additional actions are needed.
  • Find out if you have been vaccinated for measles or have had measles previously. Make sure you are up to date with the recommended number of measles (MMR) vaccinations.
    • To check your immunization status, call your healthcare provider or request records through the VDH Record Request Portal.
    • If you have received two doses of a measles-containing vaccine, or were born before 1957, you are considered protected and do not need to seek post-exposure treatment at this time.
  • People who are not fully vaccinated or otherwise immune to measles should contact their healthcare provider or call their local health department promptly to discuss any questions they might have. If you have already completed the above survey, your local health department will reach out to you to provide recommendations if additional actions are needed.
  • Watch for symptoms of measles for 21 days after the potential exposure. Monitoring for symptoms is especially important for people who are not fully vaccinated or otherwise immune to measles.
    • 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.
    • The most likely time you would become sick from these exposures is by February 19, 2026.
    • Contact your local health department or email epi_response@vdh.virginia.gov to discuss any additional recommendations.

General Measles Information

Measles is a highly contagious illness that can spread easily through the air when an infected person breathes, coughs, or sneezes. Measles symptoms usually appear in two stages. In the first stage, most people have a fever of greater than 101 degrees, runny nose, watery red eyes, and a cough. These symptoms usually start seven to 14 days after being exposed. The second stage starts three to five days after symptoms start, when a rash begins to appear on the face and spreads to the rest of the body. People with measles are contagious from four days before the rash appears through four days after the rash appeared.

Measles is preventable through a safe and effective MMR vaccine. Two doses of the vaccine are given to provide lifetime protection. Virginia has high measles vaccination rates, with approximately 95% of kindergarteners fully vaccinated against measles. However, infants who are too young to be vaccinated, and others who are not vaccinated, are at high risk of developing measles if they are exposed. Infants six months through 11 months of age who will be traveling internationally, or to an outbreak setting, should receive one dose of MMR vaccine prior to travel. Talk to your healthcare provider if you have questions about the MMR vaccine.

For more information about measles visit www.vdh.virginia.gov/measles/.

# # #

Virginia Health Officials Investigating Confirmed Measles Case in Northern Region

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – February 4, 2026
Media Contact: Brookie Crawford, brookie.crawford@vdh.virginia.gov

Virginia Health Officials Investigating Confirmed Measles Case in Northern Region
Virginia Department of Health is Working to Identify People Who Are at Risk

RICHMOND, Va. – The Virginia Department of Health is reporting a confirmed case of measles in an adult resident of Northern Virginia. To protect the patient’s privacy, VDH will not provide any additional information about the patient. Health officials are coordinating an effort to identify people who might have been exposed.

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

  • The Ian Apartment Complex, located at 2249 Woodland Grove Place in Herndon, any time between Friday, January 23 and Saturday, January 31.
  • Kumo Sushi, located at 2338 Woodland Crossing Drive in Herndon, between 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. Saturday, January 24.
  • Target, located at 12197 Sunset Hills Road in Reston, between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Sunday, January 25.
  • Harris Teeter, located at 12960 Highland Crossing Drive in Herndon, between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. Sunday, January 25.
  • Fairfax County Animal Shelter – West Ox Campus, located at 4500 West Ox Road in Fairfax, between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. Saturday, January 31.

To date in 2026, Virginia has reported five cases of measles. Any additional exposure sites identified in Virginia will be posted to the VDH Measles website.

What to Do If You Have Been Exposed to Measles

Most people in Virginia have immunity to measles through vaccination, so the risk to the general public is low. However, anyone who was at the potential exposure sites at the times listed should:

  • Report your exposure to the Fairfax County Health Department by completing this short survey. Public health officials will follow-up with respondents if additional actions are needed.
  • Find out if you have been vaccinated for measles or have had measles previously. Make sure you are up to date with the recommended number of measles (MMR) vaccinations.
    • To check your immunization status, call your healthcare provider or request records through the VDH Record Request Portal.
    • If you have received two doses of a measles-containing vaccine, or were born before 1957, you are considered protected and do not need to seek post-exposure treatment at this time.
  • People who are not fully vaccinated or otherwise immune to measles should contact their healthcare provider or call their local health department promptly to discuss any questions they might have. If you have already completed the above survey, your local health department will reach out to you to provide recommendations if additional actions are needed.
  • Watch for symptoms of measles for 21 days after the potential exposure. Monitoring for symptoms is especially important for people who are not fully vaccinated or otherwise immune to measles.
    • 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.
    • The most likely time you would become sick from this exposure is by February 21, 2026.
    • Contact your local health department or email epi_response@vdh.virginia.gov to discuss any additional recommendations.

General Measles Information

Measles is a highly contagious illness that can spread easily through the air when an infected person breathes, coughs, or sneezes. Measles symptoms usually appear in two stages. In the first stage, most people have a fever of greater than 101 degrees, runny nose, watery red eyes, and a cough. These symptoms usually start seven to 14 days after being exposed. The second stage starts three to five days after symptoms start, when a rash begins to appear on the face and spreads to the rest of the body. People with measles are contagious from four days before the rash appears through four days after the rash appeared.

Measles is preventable through a safe and effective MMR vaccine. Two doses of the vaccine are given to provide lifetime protection. Virginia has high measles vaccination rates, with approximately 95% of kindergarteners fully vaccinated against measles. However, infants who are too young to be vaccinated, and others who are not vaccinated, are at high risk of developing measles if they are exposed. Infants six months through 11 months of age who will be traveling internationally, or to an outbreak setting, should receive one dose of MMR vaccine prior to travel. Talk to your healthcare provider if you have questions about the MMR vaccine.

For more information about measles visit www.vdh.virginia.gov/measles/.

# # #

Virginia Health Officials Investigating a Potential Measles Exposure in Northern Virginia

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – January 30, 2026
Media Contact: Brookie Crawford, brookie.crawford@vdh.virginia.gov

Virginia Health Officials Investigating a Potential Measles Exposure in Northern Virginia
Virginia Department of Health is Working to Identify People Who Are at Risk

RICHMOND, Va. – The Virginia Department of Health (VDH) was notified of a confirmed case of measles that traveled through Washington Dulles International Airport Saturday, January 24. The person is a resident of another state. To protect the patient’s privacy, VDH will not provide any additional information about the patient. Health officials are coordinating an effort to identify people who might have been exposed, including contacting potentially exposed passengers on specific flights.

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

  • Dulles International Airport (IAD): in Concourse B, on transportation to the International Arrivals Building (IAB) and in the baggage claim area between 5 a.m. and 9 a.m. Saturday, January 24.
  • Dulles shuttle bus to the rental car facilities between 7 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. Saturday, January 24.

Any additional exposure sites identified in Virginia will be posted to the VDH Measles website.

What to Do If You Have Been Exposed to Measles

Most people in Virginia have immunity to measles through vaccination, so the risk to the general public is low. However, anyone who was at the potential exposure sites at the times listed should:

  • Report your exposure to the Loudoun County Health Department by completing this short survey. Public health officials will follow up with respondents if additional actions are needed.
  • Find out if you have been vaccinated for measles or have had measles previously. Make sure you are up to date with the recommended number of measles (MMR) vaccinations.
    • To check your immunization status, call your healthcare provider or request records through the VDH Record Request Portal.
    • If you have received two doses of a measles-containing vaccine, or were born before 1957, you are considered protected and do not need to seek post-exposure treatment at this time.
  • People who are not fully vaccinated or otherwise immune to measles should contact their healthcare provider or call their local health department promptly to discuss any questions they might have. If you have already completed the above survey, your local health department will reach out to you to provide recommendations if additional actions are needed.
  • Watch for symptoms of measles for 21 days after the potential exposure. Monitoring for symptoms is especially important for people who are not fully vaccinated or otherwise immune to measles.
    • 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 notify the local health department. This call will help protect other patients and staff.
    • The most likely time you would become sick from this exposure would be between January 31 and February 14.

Contact your local health department or email epi_response@vdh.virginia.gov to discuss any additional recommendations.

General Measles Information

Measles is a highly contagious illness that can spread easily through the air when an infected person breathes, coughs, or sneezes. Measles symptoms usually appear in two stages. In the first stage, most people have a fever of greater than 101 degrees, runny nose, watery red eyes, and a cough. These symptoms usually start seven to 14 days after being exposed. The second stage starts three to five days after symptoms start, when a rash begins to appear on the face and spreads to the rest of the body. People with measles are contagious from four days before the rash appears through four days after the rash appeared.

Measles is preventable through a safe and effective MMR vaccine. Two doses of the vaccine are given to provide lifetime protection. Virginia has high measles vaccination rates, with approximately 95% of kindergarteners fully vaccinated against measles. However, infants who are too young to be vaccinated, and others who are not vaccinated, are at high risk of developing measles if they are exposed. Infants six months through 11 months of age who will be traveling internationally, or to an outbreak setting, should receive one dose of MMR vaccine prior to travel. Talk to your healthcare provider if you have questions about the MMR vaccine.

To date in 2026, Virginia has four reported cases of measles. For more information about measles visit www.vdh.virginia.gov/measles/.

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Virginia Health Officials Investigating Another Confirmed Measles Case in Northern Region

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – January 20, 2026
Media Contact: Brookie Crawford, brookie.crawford@vdh.virginia.gov

Virginia Health Officials Investigating Another Confirmed Measles Case in Northern Region
Virginia Department of Health is Working to Identify People Who Are at Risk

RICHMOND, Va. – The Virginia Department of Health is reporting a confirmed case of measles in a resident of the Northern Region. The patient is a preschool-age child (0-4 years) who recently traveled internationally. This case is unrelated to a recent measles case reported on January 11. To protect the patient’s privacy, VDH will not provide any additional information about the patient. Health officials are coordinating an effort to identify people who might have been exposed and appreciate the active collaboration of affected healthcare facilities.

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

  • PM Pediatric Urgent Care, located at 2690 Prince William Parkway in Woodbridge
    • Tuesday, January 13 from 4 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
  • Inova Children’s Emergency Department, located at 3300 Gallows Road in Falls Church
    • Thursday, January 15 from 7:30 p.m. to 10 p.m.
    • Friday, January 16 from 8:30 p.m. to 11 p.m.
  • Inova Fairfax Hospital Women’s and Children’s Building, Floors 2-10, located at 3300 Gallows Road in Falls Church
    • Saturday, January 17 at 2:30 a.m. to Sunday, January 18 at 5 p.m.

To date in 2026, Virginia has reported three cases of measles. Any additional exposure sites identified in Virginia will be posted to the VDH Measles website.

What to Do If You Have Been Exposed to Measles

Most people in Virginia have immunity to measles through vaccination, so the risk to the general public is low. However, anyone who was at the potential exposure sites at the times listed should:

  • Find out if you have been vaccinated for measles or have had measles previously. Make sure you are up to date with the recommended number of measles (MMR) vaccinations.
    • To check your immunization status, call your healthcare provider or request records through the VDH Record Request Portal.
    • If you have received two doses of a measles-containing vaccine, or were born before 1957, you are considered protected and do not need to seek post-exposure treatment at this time.
  • People who are not fully vaccinated or otherwise immune to measles should contact their healthcare provider or call their local health department People who are not immune to measles may qualify for post-exposure treatments. There is a small timeframe for these protective post-exposure treatments to be effective.
  • Watch for symptoms of measles for 21 days after the potential exposure. Monitoring for symptoms is especially important for people who are not fully vaccinated or otherwise immune to measles.
    • 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.
    • The most likely time you would become sick would be between January 20 to February 8.
    • Contact your local health department or email epi_response@vdh.virginia.gov to discuss any additional recommendations.

General Measles Information

Measles is a highly contagious illness that can spread easily through the air when an infected person breathes, coughs, or sneezes. Measles symptoms usually appear in two stages. In the first stage, most people have a fever of greater than 101 degrees, runny nose, watery red eyes, and a cough. These symptoms usually start seven to 14 days after being exposed. The second stage starts three to five days after symptoms start, when a rash begins to appear on the face and spreads to the rest of the body. People with measles are contagious from four days before the rash appears through four days after the rash appeared.

Measles is preventable through a safe and effective MMR vaccine. Two doses of the vaccine are given to provide lifetime protection. Virginia has high measles vaccination rates, with approximately 95% of kindergarteners fully vaccinated against measles. However, infants who are too young to be vaccinated, and others who are not vaccinated, are at high risk of developing measles if they are exposed. Infants six months through 11 months of age who will be traveling internationally, or to an outbreak setting, should receive one dose of MMR vaccine prior to travel. Talk to a healthcare provider if you have questions about the MMR vaccine.

For more information about measles visit www.vdh.virginia.gov/measles/.

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Virginia Health Officials Investigating a Confirmed Measles Case in Northern Region

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  – January 11, 2026
Media Contact: Brookie Crawford, brookie.crawford@vdh.virginia.gov

Virginia Health Officials Investigating a Confirmed Measles Case in Northern Region

RICHMOND, Va. – The Virginia Department of Health (VDH) is reporting the state’s second measles case of 2026. The patient is a preschool-age child (0-4 years) in the Northern Region who recently traveled internationally. To protect the patient’s privacy, VDH will not provide any additional information about the patient. Virginia health officials are coordinating an effort to identify people who might have been exposed.

Listed below are the date, times, and location of the potential exposure site in Virginia:

  • Alexander T. Augusta Military Medical Center Emergency Department and Executive Medicine Suite, located at 9300 DeWitt Loop in Fort Belvoir, Friday, January 9 from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 10 p.m. to midnight.

In addition to the above location in Virginia, there is a potential exposure on a train that traveled through several nearby states and Washington, DC as listed below:

  • Amtrak Northeast Regional Train 175, from William H. Gray III 30th Street Station, Philadelphia, PA at 9 p.m. to Washington Union Station at 11:30 p.m. Wednesday, January 7.

Additional exposure sites related to this case have been identified in other states, including Maryland, Pennsylvania and DC.

To date in 2026, Virginia has reported two cases of measles. Any additional exposure sites identified in Virginia will be posted to the VDH Measles website.

What to Do If You Have Been Exposed to Measles

Most people in Virginia have immunity to measles through vaccination, so the risk to the general public is low. However, anyone who was at the potential exposure sites at the times listed should:

  • Find out if you have been vaccinated for measles or have had measles previously. Make sure you are up to date with the recommended number of measles (MMR) vaccinations.
    • To check your immunization status, call your healthcare provider or request records through the VDH Record Request Portal.
    • If you have received two doses of a measles-containing vaccine, or were born before 1957, you are considered protected.
  • Anyone who might have been exposed and is considered to be at risk of developing measles should contact their healthcare provider promptly to discuss any questions they might have. People who are not immune to measles might qualify for post-exposure treatments. There is a small timeframe within which these protective post-exposure treatments need to be given to be effective.
  • Watch for symptoms of measles for 21 days after the potential exposure. Monitoring for symptoms is especially important for people who are not fully vaccinated or otherwise immune to measles.
  • 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.
  • The most likely time you would become sick would be between January 16 to January 30.
  • Contact your local health department or email epi_response@vdh.virginia.gov to discuss any additional recommendations.

General Measles Information

Measles is a highly contagious illness that can spread easily through the air when an infected person breathes, coughs, or sneezes. Measles symptoms usually appear in two stages. In the first stage, most people have a fever of greater than 101 degrees, runny nose, watery red eyes, and a cough. These symptoms usually start seven to 14 days after being exposed. The second stage starts three to five days after symptoms start, when a rash begins to appear on the face and spreads to the rest of the body. People with measles are contagious from four days before the rash appears through four days after the rash appeared.

Measles is preventable through a safe and effective MMR vaccine. Two doses of the vaccine are given to provide lifetime protection. Virginia has high measles vaccination rates, with approximately 95% of kindergarteners fully vaccinated against measles. However, infants who are too young to be vaccinated, and others who are not vaccinated, are at high risk of developing measles if they are exposed. Infants six months through 11 months of age who will be traveling internationally, or to an outbreak setting, should receive one dose of MMR vaccine prior to travel. Talk to your healthcare provider if you have questions about the MMR vaccine.

For more information about measles visit www.vdh.virginia.gov/measles/.

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