FAIRFAX COUNTY, Va. (DC News Now) — Officials at the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) issued warnings on Monday about possible exposure sites from a confirmed measles case in Northern Virginia, which includes a grocery store in Lorton.
Officials said the individual was an international traveler and is now the 8th reported case in the state to date.
Measles cases reach highest level in 30 years: CDC
Locations of possible measles exposure
Health officials stated that the individual traveled between Feb. 11 and Feb. 14, risking possible exposure to the virus at several sites:
- Giant Food, at 8941 Ox Road, Lorton — between 3:30 p.m. and 5:45 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 11
- Inova-GoHealth Urgent Care, at 9427 Lorton Market St., Lorton — between 9:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 13
- Inova HealthPlex Lorton Emergency Room, at 9321 Sanger St., Lorton — between 10:00 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 14
Officials urge anyone exposed to report their exposure in a short survey to the VDH.
How to protect yourself from exposure
Although measles was declared eliminated from the United States in 2000, recorded cases have been on the rise, with Virginia among the states with the highest infection rates in the country.
Measles is a highly contagious disease, infecting up to nine out of 10 people nearby who are exposed to it, according to the Center for Disease Control (CDC). It spreads when an infected person coughs or sneezes, leaving anyone in the same room at risk for as long as 2 hours…