What to know about measles in the DMV
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A microscopic view of the measles virus. Photo: Birbal Sahni Institute/Universal Images Group via Getty Images
The growing measles outbreak in the U.S. has infected over 300 people, including several in the DMV, exceeding the number of total cases in the country last year.
Why it matters: The outbreak comes at a time of falling vaccination rates and declining trust in public health institutions.
- It's an early test of how President Trump's administration — and Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. — will handle public health emergencies and infectious disease surveillance.
State of play: Outbreaks of the highly infectious, airborne disease are happening in Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico and elsewhere.
- Last week, two cases were confirmed in Maryland from Prince George's County residents who traveled abroad together. Other new cases were identified at Dulles Airport, plus exposures reported in D.C. on Friday.
- DC Health is working with the Maryland and Virginia health departments to track cases and infection risks.
All U.S. states require children to have the measles mumps rubella (MMR) vaccine to attend school.
- In the DMV, vaccine rates are high among kindergarteners, per a 2024 report in Education Week, at 92% in D.C., 94% in Virginia, and 97% in Maryland.
Zoom in: As cases proliferate, medical professionals are releasing updated guidelines about who should get vaccinations, boosters and antibody tests.
- One Medical, a large DMV health provider operated by Amazon, offers vaccine appointments for adults who don't have evidence of immunity.
- Two doses of the vaccine are recommended for university students, international travelers, healthcare workers, immunocompromised individuals and their close contacts, and those with HIV.
- Boosters are recommended for those vaccinated before 1968 who may have received less effective versions of the vaccine.
- One Medical labs also offer tests to measure the level of antibodies to measles in a person's blood, which can determine vaccination needs.
Threat level: High, if you've never been vaccinated. If 10 unvaccinated people are in contact with someone who has measles, nine of them will become infected, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine.
- While measles is a minor illness for most, it can lead to serious illness or death. Complications can include acute encephalitis that causes brain inflammation, blindness, ear infections, diarrhea and pneumonia.
- An estimated one to three children of every 1,000 who become infected with measles will die, per the CDC.
Flashback: The disease was officially eradicated in the U.S. in 2000 after an effective vaccination program.
- But measles rates are rising as nationwide vaccination rates among kindergarteners have fallen below the 95% target set by the CDC.
- The U.S. recorded 285 measles cases and no deaths from the disease in 2024, per the CDC.