Measles patient rode train bound for DC. Check potential exposure sites and dates

A child infected with measles passed through locations in Maryland and Virginia and rode a train that was headed from Philadelphia to D.C., authorities said in warnings about the highly contagious illness prevented through vaccination.

The measles patient, who is preschool age, traveled through locations including the Amtrak shuttle at Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport.

Virginia’s Department of Health said the patient had recently traveled internationally. They listed these potential exposure sites and dates:

Amtrak Northeast Regional Train 175, from William H. Gray III 30th Street Station, Philadelphia, at 9 p.m. to Washington Union Station at 11:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 7
Alexander T. Augusta Military Medical Center Emergency Department and Executive Medicine Suite, located at 9300 DeWitt Loop in Fort Belvoir, Friday, Jan. 9 from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 10 p.m. to midnight

“Virginia health officials are coordinating an effort to identify people who might have been exposed,” a statement released Sunday said.

Maryland’s Department of Health warned of potential exposure at these additional locations and times:

Amtrak BWI Shuttle to and from the BWI train station and the dropoff points outside of the lower-level of BWI on Jan. 7 from 10:45 p.m. to Jan. 8 at 1:30 a.m.
BWI Airport Parking Shuttle to and from outside of the lower-level outside of BWI Airport and the BWI Airport’s long-term parking lots on Jan. 7 from 11 p.m. to 2 a.m. the next day

Virginia advised anyone who was potentially exposed to check if they’re up to date on vaccinations, contact a health care provider and watch for symptoms for the next 21 days. Symptoms include a high fever, cough, runny nose and red rash.

A top Maryland health official urged residents to get vaccinated.

“Vaccination remains essential to protecting ourselves, our families, and our communities against measles and other infectious diseases,” said Maryland Department of Health Deputy Secretary for Public Health Services Dr. Meg Sullivan. “These types of situations underscore the importance of knowing your vaccination status and ensuring you are up to date with all recommended vaccines.”

Virginia has seen two cases of measles so far this year. Maryland has had no measles cases in 2026 and had three cases in 2025.

The U.S. saw a surge of measles cases in 2025, with 2,144 cases and three deaths, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention information shows.

As diseases like measles, whooping cough and tetanus spike in unvaccinated patients, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced a major overhaul to the childhood vaccine schedule, recommending kids get only 11 vaccines instead of 18. News4’s Aimee Cho spoke with a vaccine expert.