Measles in Washington D.C.: Case Confirmed, Health Alert Issued

Measles Detected in Washington D.C.

Infected Person Traveled Across the City

Alert Issued Amid Low Vaccination Rates

Health officials in Washington D.C. have confirmed a case of measles in a patient who visited multiple locations while contagious.

The infected individual moved throughout the nation’s capital over the past week, including stops at two Amtrak stations and an urgent care center.

Authorities are urging anyone who is unvaccinated—or who received the MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine before 1968—and may have been in contact with the patient to contact their healthcare provider.

The person traveled southbound on Amtrak’s Northeast Regional Train 175 from Union Station on March 19 between 7 p.m. and 11 p.m.

Measles Cases Rise in the US Amid Falling Vaccination Rates and Public Distrust

Measles in Washington D.C.: Case Confirmed – PHOTO: MH

Later, the individual visited MedStar Urgent Care in Adams Morgan, located at 1805 Columbia Road NW, on March 22 between 7 p.m. and 11 p.m., according to local health officials.

The U.S. measles outbreak has already surpassed 300 cases—primarily in West Texas—exceeding last year’s nationwide total.

This surge is linked to declining vaccination rates and growing distrust in public health institutions.

The alert in D.C. comes just weeks after Maryland officials confirmed three measles cases in residents who had recently traveled abroad and passed through Washington Dulles Airport.

Those cases are not linked to outbreaks reported in Texas, New Mexico, or Oklahoma.

Details about the D.C. case have not yet been released, and it is unclear whether it is connected to international travel.

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Washington D.C. currently has the lowest vaccination rate in the DMV area, with about 92% of kindergarteners immunized—below the 95% threshold needed to prevent outbreaks.

By comparison, Virginia’s rate stands at 94%, and Maryland’s at 97%, according to a 2024 report from Education Week.

High vaccination coverage is essential to prevent the spread of measles, which is highly contagious: about nine out of ten unvaccinated people will get the virus if exposed.

In response to the D.C. case, Amazon-operated health network One Medical is offering vaccination appointments for those without immunity.

A booster dose is also recommended for individuals vaccinated before 1968, as earlier versions of the vaccine may be less effective.

So far this year, 378 measles cases have been reported across 17 states—already exceeding the 285 cases recorded in all of 2023.

One death has been confirmed: a six-year-old girl in Texas, marking the first measles-related fatality in the U.S. since 2015. Another possible death is under investigation in New Mexico.

The MMR vaccine is considered 97% effective against measles.

Without vaccination, measles can lead to death in roughly one out of every 1,000 cases, often due to complications like pneumonia or brain inflammation.

States with confirmed cases in 2025 include: Alaska, California, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Texas, Vermont, and Washington.

SOURCE: DailyMail

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