Measles Exposure At Dulles Airport Investigated By Virginia Health Officials

DULLES, VA — A confirmed case of measles is leading the Virginia Department of Health to inform residents of potential exposure at Dulles International Airport.

Officials said a person with measles traveled through Washington Dulles International Airport on Tuesday, Aug. 12. The person is not a Virginia resident and passed through the main terminal, at the TSA security checkpoint, in Concourse B and on transportation from the main terminal to Concourse B from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Aug. 12.

State health officials are also working to contact people on specific flights who may have been exposed to virus.

According to the Virginia Department of Health, measles is highly contagious and spreads through the air from an infected person breathing, coughing or sneezing. However, measles is preventable with the MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccine. Based on health guidance, two doses of the vaccine are needed in a lifetime.

People who have received two doses of a measles-containing vaccine or were born before 1957 are considered protected from the exposure, according to health officials. Those who have not received a measles-containing vaccine could be at risk from the measles exposure and should contact their health care provider.

Measles had been declared eradicated in 2000 due to high vaccination rates. However, recent outbreaks have been reported in parts of the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. To date in 2025, there have been 1,356 measles cases reported in the U.S. Virginia has a range of one to nine cases in 2025.

The Mayo Clinic says many people recover from measles without long-term issues. However, children under 5 and people with vulnerable immune systems are more at risk of serious complication and death.

The Virginia Department of Health says Virginia has high measles vaccination rates, with 95 percent of kindergarten students fully vaccinated. Infants who are two young to be vaccinated are also at risk of exposure. Health officials encourage one dose of a measles-containing vaccine for babies 6 months to 11 months old who are traveling internationally or to an outbreak location. Residents can direct questions about the MMR vaccine to their health care provider.

Measles Symptoms To Watch For

Symptoms of measles will appear in two stages, starting with a fever over 101 degrees, runny nose, watery red eyes and a cough about seven to 14 days after exposure. In the second stage — three to five days after symptoms begin — a rash starts to appear on the face and spreads to the body. Measles is contagious from four days before the rash appears to four days after the rash appears.

A person with measles is contagious, beginning four days before the rash appears, until four days after the rash begins.

What to Do If You Think You May Have Been Exposed

• People, especially those not fully vaccinated or otherwise immune to measles, who were at the locations during the possible exposure times should monitor themselves for any early symptoms of measles for 21 days after the potential exposure.
• Exposed individuals who develop a fever or other symptoms of measles should not go to childcare, school, work, or out in public. Instead, they should contact their health care provider first rather than going to a waiting room or emergency room, so measures can be taken to prevent spread of the highly-contagious disease.

People are generally considered immune to measles if they are up-to-date on measles vaccination, have had a laboratory confirm they either had measles during their lifetime or are immune to measles, or were born before 1957.

To date in 2025, Virginia has three reported cases of measles. For the latest information on measles cases and exposures in Virginia, visit the VDH Measles website.

SEE ALSO:

• Latest VA Measles Exposure Confirmed At Dulles Airport
• Third Measles Case Confirmed In Northern VA
• Health Officials Confirm Second Measles Case Of 2025 In VA
• Virginia Confirms State's First Measles Case Of 2025