DC measles case linked to Amtrak exposure

DC measles case linked to Amtrak exposure.Health officials are now working to trace potential contacts after confirming the individual traveled on an Amtrak train between New York City and Philadelphia earlier this month. The specific date and train number are being withheld to protect the patient's privacy, but anyone who traveled on Amtrak in that corridor during the relevant timeframe is urged to check their vaccination status and be vigilant for symptoms. Measles is highly contagious and can spread easily through respiratory droplets. Symptoms typically appear 7-14 days after exposure and include fever, cough, runny nose, and a characteristic rash. Individuals who believe they may have been exposed and are experiencing symptoms should contact their healthcare provider immediately and isolate themselves to prevent further spread. The DC Department of Health is collaborating with Amtrak and public health agencies in New York and Pennsylvania to identify and notify potentially exposed individuals. Vaccination remains the most effective way to prevent measles infection.

Last month, Texas health officials announced an unvaccinated child died of measles, marking the first U.S. measles death in a decade.

In all of 2024, there were 285 measles cases in the U.S., the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says. Of those, 89% of patients were unvaccinated.

In recent weeks in the D.C. area, we’ve seen two measles cases in Prince George’s County and one in Howard County. Health officials said those patients had traveled internationally.

Health officials are tracking any possible spread of the highly contagious illness, said Dr. Glenn Wortmann, the director of infectious diseases at MedStar Washington Hospital Center.

Separately, three cases of measles related to international travel were reported by the Maryland Department of Health earlier this month. It’s common for regional health officials to report a handful of cases annually in people who contracted the illness while out of the country.

Early symptoms of measles include a fever above 101 degrees, runny nose, cough, and red, watery eyes. Usually, one to four days after the early symptoms, a red rash appears on the face and spreads to the rest of the body. A person with measles is contagious, beginning four days before the rash appears until four days after the rash begins, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

People are generally considered immune to measles if they are current on their vaccination, have had a lab-confirmed case during their lifetime or are immune to measles, or were born before 1957.

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Sarah H

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