Health officials have warned about a potential measles outbreak on Washington Dulles International Airport in Virginia.
A passenger who arrived on an international flight has been tested positively for the highly contagious respiratory disease, which is currently tearing through the US.
Travelers who were on Washington Dulles Airport, who serves the Washington, DC, Virginia and Maryland region on 8 June, have been warned that they can run a high risk of the virus.
The infected traveler passed Concoure A, brought Transport to the International Arapsed Building (IAB) and was continued through the luggage claim area between 10.30 am and 1 pm.
In addition, they ventured into the Washington DC area on the same day and took the Silver Line train from Dulles International Airport Station to the Red Line, on their way to Shady Grove Station between 11.30 am and 2.30 pm.
Travelers who fear they may have crossed paths with the patient in Washington Dulles and in the Washington DC transit system is advised to confirm whether they have been vaccinated against measles.
To date in 2025, Virginia has three reported cases of measles, with one of these cases that are also related to a traveler on Washington Dulles International Airport.
Experts warn that the US is currently vulnerable to outbreaks of measles due to falling vaccination rates.
The new case, however, comes as Texas fighting an outbreak of measles that has infected nearly 800 people and killed two children.
Health officials have warned about a potential measles outbreak on Washington Dulles International Airport in Virginia
At present, 744 cases have been confirmed in the Lone Star State since the end of January.
Ninety -six of the patients were admitted to the hospital and there have been two fatalities in non-vaccinated school-going children who lived in the outbreak area.
In general, there were 1,168 measles cases confirmed by 34 states and at least three dead.
Mazles is the world’s most contagious disease – which infects nine out of 10 people exposed – but those who have been fully vaccinated are protected in 97 percent of the cases.
The disease causes small white spots in the mouth, flat red spots on the neck, torso, arms, legs and feet, ear infections and high fever.
If it is serious, this can lead to life -threatening pneumonia.
Children need two doses of measles, mumps, rubella (mmr) vaccine: the first at the age of 12-15 months and the second dose in 4-6 years old.
Babies aged 6-11 months must get an early dose if they travel international. Adults must also check whether they are immune to measles.
About one to three in 1,000 people with measles die from the disease.
From studied provinces, 78 percent or 1,614 provinces reported drops in MMR vaccination percentages
Cold -like symptoms, such as fever, cough and a runny nose or blocked nose, are usually the first signal of measles
In an updated advice, the CDC warns that people can be infected with measles while traveling or at busy events, unless they have been fully vaccinated or have had the disease.
The message reads: ‘Travelers can catch measles in many travel institutions, including travel hubs such as airports and train stations, on public transport such as planes and trains, at tourist attractions and at large, busy events.
“Infected travelers can bring the disease back to their home communities where it can quickly spread among people who are not immune.”
The government agency recommends that all travelers are fully vaccinated against measles before they travel to an international destination.
The last time measles were in the US was in 2019, when 1,274 cases were reported for the entire year.
Measles was officially eradicated in the US in 2000, in the midst of a successful vaccination campaign.
At the time, the CDC described the reaching of measles elimination status in the US as a ‘historical performance of public health’.
A recent study showed that the absorption of the vaccine in children decreased in the 10 American provinces last year, which is indicated as the cause of the revival of measles.
In general, the vaccine rates fell three percent throughout the country.
It means that 91 percent of the children are vaccinated against measles, which is lower than the 95 percent needed to prevent the disease from spreading and causing deaths.
The researchers of Johns Hopkins University warned that if vaccination rates continue to fall, measles will probably return and become a common infection among Americans.
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