Last Updated: May 9, 2025
Staying up to date on public health information can be stressful and time-consuming. RHHD helps you understand what’s happening in our local communities, our commonwealth, and our country, so that you can better protect yourselves and your neighbors from dangers like infectious diseases.
The Virginia Department of Health (VDH) reported the state’s first measles case of the year on April 19. The patient is a child (0-4 years) in the Northwest Region who had recently traveled internationally. Health officials are coordinating efforts to identify anyone who might have been exposed. Visit the VDH website for more information about this measles exposure.
Measles is a highly infectious disease that spreads through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes. Two doses of the safe and effective measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine provides the best protection against measles. MMR is a school-required vaccine for kindergarteners in Virginia.
Talk to your doctor, school nurse, or other healthcare provider about the MMR vaccine. Call 804-205-3501 for more information about MMR vaccination at RHHD clinics.
- What are the symptoms of measles?
Measles symptoms usually appear in two stages. In the first stage, most people have a fever, runny nose, redness of the eyes, and cough. The second stage begins around days 3–7 when a red blotchy rash begins to appear on the face and spreads over the entire body. The rash generally lasts 5–6 days. Small white spots, called Koplik spots, also may be seen on the gums and inside of the cheeks. - What should I do if I notice symptoms?
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.
RHHD continues to monitor measles outbreaks across the U.S.