Two more people in Northern Virginia have the measles, and health officials are warning that more people might have been exposed to the highly contagious illness over a period of a few days earlier this month.
The Virginia Department of Health said the two patients are adults who had recently traveled together domestically.
Before they tested positive for the measles, they went to grocery stores, shops, restaurants, churches and a medical center in the areas of Manassas, Gainesville and Alexandria, the health department said.
Northern Virginia measles exposure sites, dates and times
Here are the places, dates and times other people might have been exposed to measles:
- Harris Teeter: 10060 Market Circle in Manassas, between 5 – 7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 13
- Walmart: 9401 Liberia Avenue in Manassas, between 5:30 – 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 13
- Marco’s Pizza: 9223 Sudley Road in Manassas, between 6 – 8:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 13
- Bull Run Unitarian Universalists: 9350 Main Street in Manassas, between 7:30 – 11:30 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 14
- Best Buy Outlet: 7665 Sudley Road in Manassas, between 2 – 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 14
- Mountaintop Church: 9213 Center Street in Manassas, between 4:30 and 11:59 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 14 and between 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 15
- Lidl: 9795 Liberia Avenue in Manassas, between 2 – 4:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 15
- Target: 9900 Sowder Village Square in Manassas, between 6:30 – 9 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 15
- Medical center: 7051 Heathcote Village Way in Gainesville, between 1 – 4 p.m. Monday, Feb.16
- Office building: 2800 Eisenhower Avenue in Alexandria, between 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 17
Virginia now has 10 reported measles cases so far this year, nine of those have been in Northern Virginia, according to the health department.
What to do if you’re exposed
Most people in Virginia have immunity to measles through vaccination, so the risk to the general public is low. But anyone who was at the potential exposure sites above should take this brief survey, the health department said.
Anyone who has not received a measles containing vaccine — either the the measles, mumps,
and rubella (MMR) vaccine or a measles only vaccine — is at risk for contracting measles. People who fall into this category and have been exposed should contact their health care provider, VDH said.
Anyone who has had two doses of a measles containing vaccine or was born before 1957 is considered protected and doesn’t need to seek treatment, health officials said.
People who have only received one dose should still be protected but should talk to their health care provider about getting a second dose in order to reach the highest possible level of protection, VDH said.
Virginia residents who want to check their immunization status can call their health care provider or request vaccination records through the VDH Immunization Record Request Form.
Immunocompromised people who might have been exposed should also check with their doctor, VDH said, especially if symptoms start to develop.
While 95% of kindergarteners in Virginia are vaccinated against measles, infants are too young to be vaccinated and are at particularly high risk, health officials said.
People who are at risk and have been exposed should watch out for symptoms for 21 days after the exposure. If symptoms appear, isolate immediately and call your health care provider, VDH said. If it’s necessary to see the healthcare provider in person or go to the emergency room, call ahead of time so they can protect staff and other patients.
What are the symptoms?
Symptoms of measles develop over two stages.
The first stage typically begins seven to 14 days after exposure. Here are some common symptoms, according to VDH:
- Fever over 101 degrees
- Runny nose
- Red, watery eyes
- Cough
The second stage starts three to five days after the initial symptoms begin and is marked by a rash on the face, which then spreads to the rest of the body.
A person with measles is contagious from four days before this rash appears until four days after it appeared, according to VDH.
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