A confirmed case of measles in an adult is being investigated by the Fairfax County Health Department and the DC Health Department. According to reports, the adult patient recently travelled internationally. The person has been discharged from Inova Fairfax Medical Campus and is free from infection now. According to officials, the adult went to multiple locations in both Washington and Fairfax County before diagnosis.

According to a news release, public health workers are making effort in an attempt to identify those who came in contact with the person affected by measles and are making the proper notifications.

The health departments are also spreading information among people who may have been exposed during the time period when the person was infectious. This is being done out of ‘an abundance of caution’.

People at some particular places may have been exposed to the measles virus and they should contact the health department in order to determine their risk for measles. A call center has been established in Fairfax County in order to deal with concerns and answer questions regarding measles.

The Fairfax County Health Department said in a news release, “Symptoms of measles usually appear within 7 to 21 days after exposure and can include fever greater than 101 degrees, runny nose, watery red eyes and cough, followed by a blotchy rash that appears on the face and spreads to the rest of the body”. As per the news release, the disease is most severe in infants and adults.

Measles is a highly communicable disease caused by a virus; the virus spreads through sneezing, coughing and contact with secretions from the mouth, nose and throat of an infected individual. A small number of measles cases are reported in the United States, but it is common in many parts of the world.