UPDATE: Suspected Fairfax Measles Case Negative

MMR vaccine/file photo

(Updated, Feb. 11, 2:55 p.m.) 

Fairfax County Department of Health officials said Wednesday the suspected measles case turned out to be negative.

The county announced on Tuesday it was investigating a possible case of measles in a Fairfax County resident. Health officials identified  potential exposure sites, and the individual is in self-isolation at home. The test to confirm the  case would take 24 hours to complete, they said.

The county did not say where in the county the resident lives.

More than 100 cases of measles have been diagnosed in 23 states in 2015, says the U.S. Centers for Disease Control. That marks a rapid increase in this country of a disease that was considered eradicated 15 years ago. CDC officials have said pockets of residents who refuse vaccinations are causing the rise.

From the county health department:

People who have received at least one dose of measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine in the past are at very low risk of being infected with measles. Measles is easily preventable through safe and effective MMR vaccine. The best protection against future measles cases is the on-time vaccination of all susceptible people.

Measles is a highly contagious illness that is spread through coughing, sneezing and contact with secretions from the nose, mouth and throat of an infected individual. Measles symptoms usually appear in two stages. In the first stage, most people have a fever of greater than 101 degrees, runny nose, watery red eyes and a cough.  The second stage begins around the third to seventh day when a rash begins to appear on the face and spreads over the entire body.

Fairfax County Public Schools require students to have the MMR vaccine. However, families can take a medical or religious exemption from the requirement. In a story last week, Reston Now outlined how many area children currently take the exemption.

Recent Stories

Fox Mill Road in Herndon will be closed on April 1 (via VDOT) Fox Mill Road will be closed at the beginning of next month to allow for a pipe…

Morning Notes

A truck lifts trimmed tree branches in Vienna (staff photo by Angela Woolsey) N. Va. Sees Rise in Home Sales — “The number of home sales in Northern Virginia rose…

Herndon’s indoor tennis court center is closed early for the season (courtesy Town of Herndon) The Town of Herndon’s indoor tennis center has closed early for the season, the Herndon…

A Fairfax County police officer with a radar gun (via FCPD) Fairfax County police officers issued almost 5,700 citations and warnings during the first phase of their year-long “Road Shark”…

×

Subscribe to our mailing list